Bo Nix, Denver Broncos Rebound In Blowout Over Saints: 4 Takeaways

The Denver Broncos had run off three consecutive wins before losing to the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers this past Sunday.

For head coach Sean Payton and Co., said loss came before a short week. They had a quick turn around Thursday night against Payton’s former Saints team in New Orleans. It was an opportunity for the Broncos to rebound after they fell to 3-3 following Sunday’s loss to the Chargers.

Denver did not disappoint in any way. The team won going away by the score of 33-10. It was not close from the get against an injury-plagued Saints team that has now lost five consecutive games.

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix put up yet another banner performance for Denver. The Oregon product completed 16-of-26 passes for 164 yards. He also added a whopping 75 yards on the ground.

After struggling earlier in the season, Denver’s rushing attack got going big time. Javonte Williams accounted for 88 yards on 14 attempts, scoring two touchdowns in the process.

Defensively, the Broncos took advantage of Saints injuries and inexperienced rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler replacing an injured Derek Carr under center. That included holding running backs Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams to a combined 27 yards on 10 attempts. Linebacker Cody Barton also scored two defensive touchdowns in the blowout win.

New Orleans was playing without a ton of key contributors. That’s a major backdrop to what was a one-sided affair in the Bayou Thursday night.

Takeaways From Denver Broncos Blowout Win Over The Saints

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Denver controlled this game from the start. It put up 389 total yards and 22 first downs. The Saints were held to 271 total yards and 15 first downs with a rookie leading the charge under center.

For the Broncos, this win has the team at 4-3 and firmly in the NFL Playoff race with roughly over half the season remaining. It’s been a surprise performance in Payton’s second season as Denver’s head coach. These are among the top takeaways from Denver’s 23-point win over New Orleans to open NFL Week 7.

Sean Payton Has Broncos Playing His Type Of Ball

Payton was under fire big time in his first season as the Broncos’ head coach. The former Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Saints was attempting to change the culture in Denver. It did not sit well with some veteran players no longer on the roster.

Fast forward a calendar year, and the Broncos are certainly playing the type of ball that has defined Payton’s extensive career.

We saw this first-hand on Thursday. Denver entered the game with the second-most sacks in the NFL. This unit recorded another six sacks of Rattler, with Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen putting consistent pressure on the quarterback.

Denver also dominated the trenches. The Saints went for 97 yards on 21 attempts. Rattler was second on the Saints with 36 rushing yards. That’s a clear indication Denver’s defensive line controlled the trenches.

Offensively, the Broncos went for 225 yards on 35 attempts. Nix also was not sacked a single time. While Payton is known for his offensive play-calling ability, his teams have in the past dominated the trenches. We saw that take hold big time in Thursday’s win.

New Orleans Saints Injury Issues

Star cornerback Paulson Adebo went down with a serious leg injury in the first half of Sunday’s game. He was taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. Later in the game, fellow cornerback Marshon Lattimore was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

These are the injuries we saw take hold during Thursday’s loss. But the Saints headed into this game without several key contributors. Obviously, it starts with star quarterback Derek Carr. He missed his second consecutive game with an oblique injury.

Remaining on offense, wide receiver Rashid Shaheed will miss the remainder of the season with a meniscus injury. Tight end Tayson Hill and wide receiver Chris Olave were also inactive for Thursday’s game. This doesn’t even account for offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk and center Erik McCoy both being on injured reserve.

You can’t make excuses in the NFL. But it’s hard to ignore just how much these injuries have impacted the Saints as they dropped their fifth consecutive game after a 2-0 start to the season.

Bo Nix Takes Control Of Denver Broncos Offense

Denver’s three-game winning streak prior to Sunday’s loss to the Chargers saw this rookie combine for five total touchdowns without an interception. It came after the former Oregon star struggled out of the gate, with zero touchdowns and four picks in his first two career starts.

Nix played decent football against the Chargers last week. But it was not anywhere near his best performance on the season.

"I do see the progress, but I still see some that I'm leaving out there,” Nix said ahead of Thursday’s game, via the Broncos’ official website. “It's a happy medium — a fine line of both — feeling like I am making strides, but, at the same time, there's things I continue to go back and watch that I know I'm capable of doing. It's good to see the progress and the strides, but I'm not where I want to be at yet."

About that? More progress was made by Nix and Denver’s offense against the Saints on Thursday. Nix led the Broncos on six consecutive scoring drives before they went three-and-out midway through the fourth quarter with the game already out of hand.

While Denver would like to see more of these drives end in touchdowns, consistently moving the ball is a step in the right direction. This was no more true than on Thursday night in New Orleans.

New Orleans Saints Defense Embarrassed

I am not going to mistake the Broncos offense for a juggernaut. There are still some major issues in this regard for Denver. That’s why it was so embarrassing to see how New Orleans’ defense performed on Thursday. This unit needed to step up with all of the injuries on the offensive side of the ball.

"We've gone through rough patches before, we'll come out the other end on this thing," Saints head coach Dennis Allen said ahead of Thursday’s game, via the team’s official website. "But we've got to figure it out and that falls on me to get that done. "And I've got confidence in my ability to do that. I think my track record here as a defensive coach would say that."

That “confidence” gave in to reality Thursday night. This unit gave up 389 total yards of offense and 22 first downs to the Broncos. Both represented season-highs for Denver.

Having lost five consecutive games, the Saints are seeing things snowball. It starts with the injuries. But in reality, New Orleans’ defense just has not been up to snuff.