The New Orleans Saints will host the Denver Broncos this Thursday in a highly anticipated matchup. This game holds significant weight as it marks the first time Sean Payton will face his former team since he “retired” from the Saints. The stakes are high for both teams, and the outcome will be pivotal in determining the trajectory of their respective seasons. But let’s call it what it is: the Saints are in a tough spot right now. After a promising start, they’ve hit a rough patch with four consecutive losses, and the reasons behind their struggles are becoming more apparent each week.
Saints Offensive Woes: A Unit in Decline
Injuries Take a Toll
The Saints’ offense has been hampered by key injuries, especially on the offensive line. The absence of Eric McCoy and Taysom Hill has left the team scrambling to adjust. Hill may return this week, but without him, the offense has been far from effective. The offensive line, once a strength, is now struggling to block for both the run and pass game, which is affecting the entire game plan.
With these blocking struggles, Klint Kubiak’s offense has been forced into a more predictable and one-dimensional attack. Without a strong running game to set up play-action passes, the Saints’ options have been limited.
Bright Spots in the Darkness
Despite these setbacks, the Saints’ offense has shown flashes of potential. Last week against Tampa Bay, the Saints put together an impressive second quarter, scoring 27 points thanks to some crucial turnovers. Spencer Rattler, the young quarterback, shined during those drives. His mobility proved helpful in navigating the relentless pass rush, but as the game wore on, his inexperience showed, with some of his college tendencies coming back to bite him.
His performance was a mixed bag: flashes of brilliance combined with moments of hesitation and holding onto the ball too long. It’s a learning curve for the young signal-caller, and the Saints will need him to grow fast if they want to turn their season around.
The Broncos’ Defense: A Formidable Foe
A Stingy Unit
The Denver Broncos’ defense has been quietly dominant this season. Allowing just 16 points per game, they rank fourth in the NFL in that category. Their defense excels in shutting down opposing passing games, giving up only 170 passing yards per game—fifth in the league.
This week, however, they may be without their star cornerback, Patrick Surtain II, who is dealing with a concussion. It’s going to be difficult for him to clear the protocol by Thursday. If Surtain can’t go, the Broncos will have to rely on Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillan, and Levi Wallace to hold down the secondary. Though this group has performed admirably, allowing just one touchdown in coverage and breaking up several passes, they aren’t quite as formidable without Surtain in the mix.
Depth and Versatility
Even without their top cornerback, the Broncos’ defense is built on depth and versatility. Moss, McMillan, and Wallace have been solid contributors, and together they’ve allowed only 65.8% of passes to be completed. They’ve proven capable of holding their own against tough competition, and the Saints’ depleted receiving corps may find it difficult to break through this unit.
Saints Wide Receivers: A Depleted Corps
Injury Concerns
The Saints may face Thursday’s contest without two of their top playmakers, Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, both of whom were injured in last week’s game. Without them, the Saints are left with a thin wide receiver corps, with Bub Means, Mason Tipton, and Cedric Wilson as the primary options for Spencer Rattler. Means, who played his first game last week, managed just 45 receiving yards, and the overall lack of experience at the position is a major concern.
Limited Targets for Rattler
Rattler will be forced to rely on this inexperienced group of receivers, which may significantly limit the Saints’ ability to move the ball through the air. The Saints need to get creative in their play-calling to avoid becoming too predictable, but without their top two weapons, it’s going to be a tough challenge.
The Ground Game: An Uphill Battle
Broncos’ Run Defense
Compared to their elite pass defense, the Broncos are slightly more vulnerable against the run, ranking 14th in the NFL by allowing 114 rushing yards per game. But even this “weakness” is relative, as the Broncos are still above average in stopping the run.
Saints’ Struggling Run Game
The Saints, after a promising start to the season in the running game, have struggled mightily in recent weeks. They’re averaging just 86 rushing yards per game over their last three contests, a mark that would place them near the bottom of the league if extended over a full season. Alvin Kamara, who has been dealing with an injury, is expected to play, but his effectiveness may be limited.
The Saints’ offensive line, with Cesar Ruiz and Lucas Patrick both dealing with injuries, has struggled to open up holes for the running backs. If they can’t get the ground game going, it will put even more pressure on Rattler and the passing attack.
The Broncos’ Pass Rush: A Real Threat
The Broncos have been one of the best teams in the league at getting after the quarterback, averaging 3.7 sacks per game, ranking third in the NFL. This doesn’t bode well for a Saints offensive line that has struggled to protect Rattler. Last week, Rattler was sacked multiple times, and this week could be even worse if the Saints’ line can’t improve.
The Mismatch: Broncos Defense vs. Saints Offense
Broncos Hold the Edge
It’s clear that the Broncos defense has a significant advantage over the Saints’ struggling offense. Between their stout pass defense and relentless pass rush, the Broncos are well-positioned to make life difficult for Rattler and the Saints. Until the Saints can address their offensive line issues, it’s going to be a tough slog every week. Unfortunately, there’s little they can do to fix these problems until the offseason.
A Tough Road Ahead
For the Saints to have any chance in this game, they will need to play nearly perfect football. The margin for error is razor-thin, and they cannot afford the kind of mistakes that have plagued them in recent weeks. If they can get some key players back from injury, protect Rattler, and establish a running game, they may have a shot. But given the current state of their offense, the odds are not in their favor.
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