NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 17: Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos walks on the sideline prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on October 17, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Gus Stark/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos dominate the New Orleans Saints 33-10 to improve to 4-3. Below is the recap and postgame interviews:
The Saints won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd half.
Bo Nix and the Broncos offense started the game from their own 35 yard line after a nice return by Marvin Mims. Bo Nix started off the drive picking up two quick first downs with his legs...one a run for 14 yards and then another for 8 yards and the Broncos were quickly at midfield. The drive stalled after three straight incompletions from the New Orleans 41 yard line after Bo missed wide open throws to Lucas Krull and Adam Trautman. Denver punted the ball to New Orleans who would start their first drive of the evening at their own 8 yard line with 12:30 remaining in the 1st quarter.
Spencer Rattler hit Foster Moreau for 32 yards on the first play to get the Saints to their 40 yard line but that's about all they would get on that drive as, after a short completion to Mason Tipton on 3rd down, the Broncos would get the ball back on offense at that their own 20 yard line after a touchback.
So, Bo Nix and the Broncos offense went back to work trying to get their first points of the game. Swing pass to Marvin Mims and a run by Audric Estime gave them an early first down. Bo Nix hit Devaughn Vele on a slant off the right side for a 20 yard gain to get the Broncos into Saints territory. Javonte got a nice 10 yard run and the Broncos were on the march. The drive stalled at the Saints 28 yard line so they would settle for a 46 yard field goal and take an early 3-0 lead with 5:28 remaining in the 1st quarter.
On their 2nd offensive drive of the game, the Saints went with the ground game with Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller. On 3rd down, Spencer Rattler found a wide open Bub Means for 10 yards to get the initial first down of the drive. On the 4th play, Cody Barton came on a blindside blitz and forced a fumble that was recovered by Kwon Alexander at the Broncos 45 yard line.
With great field position, Broncos offense looked to build on their early lead. Back to the ground game with Javonte Williams and the Broncos were into Saints territory. Nix completed a pass to Frankin on a slant on the left side to get the Broncos into the end zone but the drive would stall at the 8 yard line and the Broncos would, once again, settle for a field goal as Wil Lutz chipped in a 32 yarder to extend the lead 6-0 with 13:24 remaining in the first half.
On the first play, it seemed like Cody Barton got a fumble recovery touchdown but DJ Jones was called offsides, negating the massive play. After ANOTHER offsides penalty gave the Saints a first down before their drive stalled and they punted it back to Denver, who started their next drive from their own 14 yard line 12:14 remaining in the 2nd quarter.
The Broncos went back to the ground game and Javonte Williams had a big gain of 21 yards to get Denver to midfield. Nice balance of run and pass got the Broncos all the way down to the Saints 8 yard line and Javonte Williams took a handoff from Bo Nix and WALKED into the end zone for the first touchdown of the game. Broncos extend the lead 13-0 with 7:30 remaining in the 1st half.
The Saints had to get aggressive now in a 2 score hole and went for it on 4th and 1 from their own 30 yard line but were able to convert. The Broncos defense lost contain on a 3rd and 2 and Spencer Rattle scrambled for a 28 yard gain into Denver territory. The drive stalled at the Broncos 17 yard line so the Saints settled for a Blake Grupe 34 yard field goal to cut into the lead 13-3 with just under 2 minutes remaining in the 1st half.
Broncos working the 2 minute drill from their own 28 yard line to start and got a nice gain on the first play to Javonte Williams for 8 yards and then a completion on 3rd down to Lucas Krull over the middle for 13 yards to get the Broncos to midfield. Marvin Mims took a check down on 3rd and 10 for 11 yards down to the Saints 40 yard line. Bo Nix add a couple of short scrambles to get the ball closer for a Wil Lutz 52 yard field goal to extend the lead 16-3 before halftime.
New Orleans started with the ball in the 2nd half trailing by two scores but it was a quick 3 and out, as the Saints sent the ball to the Broncos who started to impose their will on the ground. Javonte, Audric and Jaleel ripped off big gains into New Orleans territory but the drive would stall again at the New Orleans 20 and the Wil Lutz would convert a 38 yard FG to give the Broncos a 19-3 lead with 10:24 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The Saints went 3 and out again which included a huge tackle for loss by PJ Locke on an Alvin Kamara screen.
Denver's offense went back to work at their own 31 yard line with hopes on adding to their lead and they would. On the first play, Nix hit Krull for 23 yards over the middle. A couple plays later on 3rd and 1, Bo Nix took a designed run around the left side for a 33 yard gain and on the next play, Javonte Williams punched it in for his 2nd touchdown, extending the lead 26-3 with 5:53 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The Saints were looking for anything to happen on offense and they got a couple of nice runs from Jamaal Williams to get to midfield before a holding penalty on Foster Moreau to put them behind the sticks back to their 41 yard line. An illegal hands to the face penalty added to the drive and the Saints were now moonwalking back into their own territory. John Franklin-Myers added a sack and the Saints had no chance of converting a 3rd and 34 before sending it back to Denver's offense with 56 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The Broncos offense went back to work and as they closed out the 3rd quarter, they surpassed 200 rushing yards with still a quarter to go. The Broncos would have their first 3 and out of the night but part of it was due to a Javonte Williams hold that they couldn't quite overcome. Saints get the ball back at their own 24 yard line with 13:29 remaining in the game.
Saints turnover the ball on downs at midfield but then rookie RB Audric Estime fumbled it right back to them. Saints went with the quick game as they had their best drive going until Ja'Quan McMillian forced a fumble that fell into Cody Barton's arms and he returned it for a 52 yard touchdown! Broncos lead now 33-3 with 4:06 remaining in the game.
Jake Haener would add a garbage time touchdown to Cedrick Wilson but the Broncos would end up cruising to a 33-10 win on Thursday Night Football!
The next broadcast will be on Sunday, October 27th as the Broncos host the Carolina Panthers. Coverage on KOA starts at 8am MTN.
Below are the postgame interviews with Sean Payton, Bo Nix, Nik Bonitto, and Javonte Williams