Jeff Legwold
Katherine Terrell
Katherine Terrell
ESPN Employees Author
Katherine Terrell got here again to ESPN to cowl the New Orleans Saints in the summertime of 2022. She left the corporate in 2019 after becoming a member of in 2016 to cowl the Cincinnati Bengals. Katherine is a graduate of LSU and a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native, and he or she has coated the NFL since 2013. You possibly can comply with Katherine on Twitter: @Kat_Terrell
NEW ORLEANS — Earlier than the Denver Broncos left for his or her journey to New Orleans, head coach Sean Payton reminded his crew of a easy goal: “We’re within the enterprise of accumulating wins.”
The Broncos did that Thursday, accumulating their fourth of the season, 33-10. And so they did it with a well-known components — protection, turnover-free play from rookie quarterback Bo Nix and simply sufficient discipline purpose drives to get the job finished — towards a New Orleans Saints crew that had 17 gamers on the harm report this week.
The Broncos (4-3) additionally leaned into their run sport, topping 200 yards dashing for good measure. It’s their greatest report after seven video games since they have been 5-2 in 2016. Subsequent up: They may welcome Carolina at dwelling Oct. 27.
Troubling development: The Broncos will take a 4-3 report, however the sluggish begins proceed. Aside from a uncommon early outburst in Tampa in Week 3, the Broncos offense has not burdened defenses early. Of their 5 video games, excluding Tampa, earlier than Thursday evening, the Broncos had 20 punts, Nix had thrown two interceptions, they misplaced two fumbles they usually had 15 three-and-outs in 30 first-half possessions. Towards an injury-ravaged Saints protection, the Broncos opened with a six-play possession, together with two dangerous Nix misses and a punt earlier than placing collectively two field-goal drives of their subsequent two possessions.
QB breakdown: The numbers have seemed advantageous, however Nix’s mobility continues to be his largest asset. He recorded his second consecutive sport of at the least 61 yards dashing towards the Saints. Nix completed 13-of-21 passing for 134 yards within the first half, when issues have been within the steadiness, to go along with no sacks and no turnovers. However the 10,000-foot view is admittedly what may need been, even past his 75 yards dashing. Nix missed alternatives on the evening’s largest performs early within the sport due to his inconsistent footwork.
Silver lining: After coping with the preliminary shock of cornerback Pat Surtain II’s concussion on the primary defensive snap of the sport final week, Denver has proven its protection nonetheless has some tooth. Surtain can be missed in any sport he does not play, however the Broncos surrendered simply 105 yards within the second half to the Chargers after they settled in. On Thursday, they held the Saints beneath 180 yards heading into the fourth quarter the place they added a defensive landing from linebacker Cody Barton. Additionally they pressured Saints QB Spencer Rattler all through. — Jeff Legwold
Subsequent sport: vs. Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Oct. 27)
Assist is not coming for the Saints.
Members of the 2009 Tremendous Bowl crew have been within the constructing to look at former quarterback Drew Brees get inducted into the Saints Corridor of Fame at halftime. A big group of injured gamers, together with quarterback Derek Carr, tight finish Taysom Hill and offensive linemen Erik McCoy and Cesar Ruiz, watched from the sideline. Three extra gamers (Marshon Lattimore, Paulson Adebo and Nick Saldiveri) have been dominated out of the sport with accidents.
However the well being of the Saints is simply one of many issues for a crew that has no fast repair in sight. The Saints have been blown out for the second week in a row and scored solely 10 factors towards the Broncos and former coach Payton.
The Saints (2-5) have now misplaced 5 in a row and have been outscored 60-10 previously six quarters. They will face the Los Angeles Chargers subsequent week after their mini-bye.
Troubling development: The defensive effort. The Saints protection was as soon as the spine of this crew, but it surely has been getting worse by the week and entered this contest final in complete protection. Former All-Professional defensive again Richard Sherman did not mince phrases at halftime when he mentioned the general effort on Prime Video: “They do not need to deal with. They do not need to make performs. These are good gamers. … I do not perceive this. It looks as if they need to get their coach fired.”
Describe the sport in two phrases: All-time low. The offense could not rating, the protection seemed virtually as dangerous as final week and the Superdome was primarily empty by the fourth quarter of one other lackluster efficiency.
QB breakdown: It was one other powerful sport for Rattler, who was lacking the Saints’ prime two receivers, a number of offensive linemen and Hill. Rattler had some huge rookie errors, together with a sack/fumble returned for a landing within the fourth quarter, a sack/fumble within the first quarter and one other fumble that was bailed out by a defensive penalty. He was capable of make some performs along with his legs, however finally completed 25-of-35 for 172 yards and no touchdowns earlier than Jake Haener completed the sport. — Katherine Terrell
Subsequent sport: vs. Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, Oct. 27)
