NEW ORLEANS — The most important storyline going into the Thursday night time sport between the Broncos and the Saints was the return of head coach Sean Payton to New Orleans.
Payton turned one of the crucial profitable head coaches of his era primarily due to the offense he guided with the Saints.
Now in his second season with the Broncos, it’s the protection of Payton’s crew that’s primarily answerable for a latest surge.
Head coaches are judged by the success of their whole crew, not simply the unit that they’re primarily answerable for. And Payton is exhibiting the flexibility to information a crew to success in numerous methods.
He and the state of the 2 franchises he has led are a case research within the issue of sustaining success within the NFL.
Payton, who resigned from the Saints after the 2021 season, watched as a head coach from the guests’ sideline within the Caesars Superdome for the primary time because the Denver protection stifled the injury-riddled New Orleans offense in a 33-10 victory.
The Broncos (4-3) received for the fourth time in 5 video games, and so they have allowed a mean of simply 11 factors in 4 victories. Even of their three losses, they’ve allowed simply 26, 13 and 23 factors.
Denver didn’t permit a landing till lower than 90 seconds remained in Thursday’s rout and restricted the Saints’ offense to 271 yards, almost a 3rd of which got here after the guests had taken a 30-point lead.
It was dominance from one facet. Catastrophe for the opposite.
Payton is hoping rookie No. 1 draft alternative Bo Nix can ultimately evolve into the chief of an offense which may rival the one Drew Brees directed for 15 seasons, as Payton-coached groups made 9 playoff appearances and received New Orleans’ solely Tremendous Bowl after the 2009 season.
Within the meantime, the play of the protection is permitting Payton to be affected person with Nix.
Nix handed for simply 164 yards in opposition to the Saints, however he added 75 dashing yards on 10 carries and Javonte Williams added two dashing touchdowns and 111 yards from scrimmage.
Mockingly, whereas the offensive-minded Payton’s crew is getting higher thanks largely to its protection, Dennis Allen, who was promoted to succeed Payton due to the success he had as Payton’s defensive coordinator, has seen his protection deteriorate.
Now 2-5, Allen’s crew has misplaced 5 straight video games.
The Broncos completed with 225 dashing yards 4 days after the Saints allowed 227 dashing yards (and 594 complete yards) in a 51-27 dwelling loss to Tampa Bay.
Denver settled 4 occasions for subject targets by Wil Lutz, however that wasn’t problematic as a result of New Orleans’ offense was by no means in a position to achieve traction in opposition to the fourth-ranked protection within the NFL.
Rookie fifth-round draft alternative Spencer Rattler made his second consecutive begin instead of injured Derek Carr and accomplished 25 of 35 passes for 172 yards. He was lacking his prime two large receivers, Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed, who underwent knee surgical procedure Thursday that reportedly will sideline him for the remainder of the season, and was sacked 5 occasions behind a makeshift offensive line and misplaced two fumbles.
By the best way, the result gave Payton a victory in opposition to the final of the 32 NFL groups that he had not beforehand defeated in his first crack at his former employer.
Whereas his present crew is ascending within the AFC standings, his former crew is sinking to the depths of the NFC.
A continuation of the present traits means New Orleans could be searching for a brand new head coach for the second time in 4 years after Payton held the place for 16 years.
And from the appears of all of it, Payton is simply getting began in Denver.
