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’ll be able to 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 staff 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. They usually did it with a well-known formulation — protection, turnover-free play from rookie quarterback Bo Nix and simply sufficient discipline aim drives to get the job performed — towards a New Orleans Saints staff that had 17 gamers on the damage report this week.
The Broncos (4-3) additionally leaned into their run recreation, topping 200 yards speeding for good measure. It’s their finest report after seven video games since they had been 5-2 in 2016. Subsequent up: They’ll welcome Carolina at residence Oct. 27.
Troubling pattern: 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 and so they had 15 three-and-outs in 30 first-half possessions. In opposition to an injury-ravaged Saints protection, the Broncos opened with a six-play possession, together with two unhealthy Nix misses and a punt earlier than placing collectively two field-goal drives of their subsequent two possessions.
QB breakdown: The numbers have appeared superb, however Nix’s mobility continues to be his largest asset. He recorded his second consecutive recreation of at the least 61 yards speeding towards the Saints. Nix completed 13-of-21 passing for 134 yards within the first half, when issues had been within the stability, to go together with no sacks and no turnovers. However the 10,000-foot view is basically what may need been, even past his 75 yards speeding. Nix missed alternatives on the evening’s largest performs early within the recreation 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 enamel. Surtain can be missed in any recreation 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 below 180 yards heading into the fourth quarter the place they added a defensive landing from linebacker Cody Barton. In addition they pressured Saints QB Spencer Rattler all through. — Jeff Legwold
Subsequent recreation: vs. Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, Oct. 27)
Assist is not coming for the Saints.
Members of the 2009 Tremendous Bowl staff had been within the constructing to observe 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) had been dominated out of the sport with accidents.
However the well being of the Saints is simply one of many issues for a staff that has no fast repair in sight. The Saints had 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 pattern: The defensive effort. The Saints protection was as soon as the spine of this staff, 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 appeared virtually as unhealthy as final week and the Superdome was basically empty by the fourth quarter of one other lackluster efficiency.
QB breakdown: It was one other powerful recreation for Rattler, who was lacking the Saints’ prime two receivers, a number of offensive linemen and Hill. Rattler had some large 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 in a position to make some performs along with his legs, however in the end completed 25-of-35 for 172 yards and no touchdowns earlier than Jake Haener completed the sport. — Katherine Terrell
Subsequent recreation: vs. Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, Oct. 27)
