The Denver Broncos dominated the New Orleans Saints in a disappointing 33-10 defeat for the Saints, marking the return of former head coach Sean Payton to the Caesars Superdome. The game featured a halftime ceremony honoring Drew Brees as he was inducted into the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.
The Saints’ struggles were evident as they played without several key players due to injuries, including quarterback Derek Carr and top wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler, selected in the fifth round of the draft, filled in but found it difficult to lead the team effectively, resulting in a lack of offensive momentum throughout the game.
Initially starting the season strong with a 2-0 record, the Saints have since suffered five consecutive losses, with the last two being particularly demoralizing. The previous week’s defeat saw them fall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a score of 51-27, and this week’s loss to Payton, whom they traded to Denver in the offseason, only added to their woes.
According to NFL researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno, it has been more than two decades since the Saints last lost back-to-back home games by 20 or more points. During Sean Payton’s successful 15-year tenure with the team, this was unheard of.
The ongoing struggles may lead to increased pressure on head coach Dennis Allen, as questions about his future with the team are likely to intensify following another disappointing performance at home.
The game itself produced little excitement, particularly in the first half, where a puzzling decision by the Saints to call a timeout with just four seconds remaining, only to take a knee afterward, left fans frustrated.
Meanwhile, the Broncos, under Payton’s leadership, improved their record to 4-3. Quarterback Bo Nix showed inconsistency but managed to accumulate 134 passing yards and 41 rushing yards in the first half, guiding the Broncos to a 16-3 halftime lead.
After Brees’ ceremony, the enthusiasm among Saints fans dwindled, reflecting a growing sense of disillusionment as the team’s season continues to spiral downward. Their early-season success is now overshadowed by a string of losses, raising concerns about injuries and overall team performance that fail to meet expectations.
With the Broncos mainly focusing on their run game in the second half, the Saints were once again overwhelmed. This performance, especially under the watch of a former beloved coach, highlighted significant issues within the team, leaving both players and fans disheartened.