Tag: Drew Brees

The Saints have now lost 6 consecutive prime-time home games

The New Orleans Saints haven’t won a prime-time game inside the Superdome since Drew Brees was the quarterback, and Caesars wasn’t yet on the building:

The New Orleans Saints fall to the Denver Broncos 33-10. The Sean Payton revenge game goes to the Saints former head coach. New Orleans was reportedly ready for the return of Payton. They surely didn’t look like it. The Broncos were the better team on both sides of the ball, and they of course had the better coach between Payton and Dennis Allen. Both teams had their ugly moments, but things never got better for the Saints.

New Orleans fell to 2-5 on the season after a 2-0 start. This is their fifth consecutive loss this season and their sixth consecutive loss inside the Caesars Superdome in prime- time over the last four years:

  • 2024: Loss to Denver Broncos, 33-10
  • 2023: Loss to Jacksonville Jaguars, 31-24
  • 2022: Loss to Baltimore Ravens,  27-13
  • 2021: Loss to Miami Dolphins, 20-3
  • 2021: Loss to Dallas Cowboys: 27-17
  • 2021: Loss to Buffalo Bills, 31-6

The same issues that were shown in previous games continued to show their ugly heads on Thursday Night. The defensive line provided no pass rush and couldn’t stop the run. Their offensive line couldn’t protect the quarterback or block for the run.

They haven’t won a prime-time  home game since Drew Brees was their quarterback. The last time it happened, it was still called the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints haven’t been good on prime time at all recently, but the struggles at home are especially disappointing. Something has to give if they’re going to get different results.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Sean Payton surprised Drew Brees at QB’s Saints Hall of Fame ceremony before ‘TNF’

“He wanted it to be this game, and that means something,” Sean Payton said of Drew Brees being honored with his old coach in attendance.

The New Orleans Saints added former quarterback Drew Brees to their Hall of Fame on Thursday with a special guest in attendance.

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton as well as fellow ex-Saints assistants Joe Lombardi, Zach Strief and Pete Carmichael surprised the former quarterback and attended the ceremony on Thursday afternoon, according to The Times-Picayune‘s Jeff Duncan.

Payton and the Broncos are preparing to face the Saints on Thursday Night Football tonight in New Orleans. Saints owner Gayle Benson was the only one who knew Payton would attend Brees’ ceremony.

Payton received a standing ovation at the ceremony and then turned his attention toward TNF as he left:

The Saints will also recognize Brees at halftime of tonight’s game.

https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1846978503407030787

It’s a fitting game for the team to honor Brees because it marks Payton’s return to New Orleans. Brees, of course, played 15 years under Payton, helping the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season.

Payton will be busy when Brees is honored at halftime tonight, but he was able to stop by the ceremony this afternoon.

“I’m sure there will be the right moment to reach out to him,” Payton said earlier this week when asked about Brees. “He’s going into their Hall of Fame, and then they also have a Ring of Honor. I don’t know what year it is now [for Pro Football Hall of Fame eligibility], but this will be the beginning of a number of [honors for Brees]. He wanted it to be this game, and that means something, but the focus for us still and our team.” 

Payton is obviously happy for Brees, but he attempted to keep the focus on the game leading up to TNF.

“I told them this [Tuesday] morning, is we’re in the business of collecting wins, and this is the next one we have to get. The preparation and all of it. Years later, we’ll be able to look back on it, but right now [it’s] focused.”

Brees will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Sean Payton’s return is all the Saints are talking about

NFL insider Josina Anderson reports Sean Payton’s return is all that’s being discussed in New Orleans. It likely isn’t anticipation of catching up, either:

Don’t let people tell you Sean Payton returning is just another game for him or the New Orleans Saints. That may be the message publicly, but Josina Anderson reported a league source told her Sean Payton’s return is “all they been talking about down here.”

Anderson inquired if the Saints were ready for him to return. The response was an emphatic, “oh yeah.” It’s doubtful they’re excited for a chance to catch up. It was reported earlier this week by Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan, some people didn’t want Drew Brees’ induction to be on the same day as Payton’s return.

There appears to be love lost for the Saints’ former head coach. Anderson’s report furthers this belief.

With Brees being in the building, everything will look very cozy. You’ll see pictures of Payton with players, Gayle Benson and maybe Mickey Loomis.

If you believe the reports, though, there is an underlying tension at least from the Saints’ side. That comes from the front office.

This game means more for everyone involved. There was also a report that New Orleans rejected Payton’s attempt to return to the team after his year away from coaching. If true, Payton wouldn’t forget or forgive that. Both sides step into this game with a point to prove.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Drew Brees ahead of team HOF induction: ‘I still feel like I’m a New Orleans Saint’

Drew Brees reflected on his time with the Saints ahead of his induction into the team Hall of Fame, and he says he’s a lifer: ‘I still feel like I’m a New Orleans Saint’


Drew Brees will be inducted in the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame Thursday night. It’s a celebratory moment for the greatest player in Saints history. Brees is the best quarterback in franchise history and one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL.

He may have started his career as a member of the Chargers, but Brees says he’s a Saints lifer. He still says “we” when talking about the team casually, and spelled out his intentions: “I still feel like I’m a New Orleans Saint.” He’s synonymous with the Saints after spearheading their greatest era alongside Sean Payton.

For Brees, “So many emotions come back every time (he) steps foot in the Dome.” Brees not only rose to prominence with the team, but also became a part of the city. The tie between the Saints and their city runs deep. After 15 years at the helm, Brees is intertwined in that fabric too.

Brees added, “I think we have the reputation for being one of the greatest fanbases in the country, being one of the greatest game day atmospheres in the country.” That reputation isn’t built without Brees. The fanbase and game day atmosphere reached a broader range and was amplified by the sustained success of the Brees-Payton era.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Drew Brees liked what he saw in Spencer Rattler’s debut

Drew Brees evaluates Spencer Rattler’s first NFL start, and it’s exactly what Brees expected to see from the Saints’ rookie quarterback:

What did Drew Brees see when watching Spencer Rattler make his NFL debut? Exactly what Brees expected to see from the New Orleans Saints rookie, “a guy who plays with a ton of confidence, can make all the throws.”

Rattler was impressive. His mobility and arm talent were on full display against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He performed well in the first half despite being without Chris Olave after the third play. That’ll be the case again against the Denver Broncos.

It wasn’t all perfect for Rattler, though. The rookie threw two interceptions in the second half. Brees partially chalks that up to taking abnormal risks while playing catch up. That applies to Rattler’s second pick.

In general, Brees understands mistakes are part of the learning process for young players. “You have to make some of those mistakes and work through those like every young player does.”

In his NFL debut, Rattler achieved what fans should have wanted to see. He showed potential for the future. This week is about building on last week’s foundation.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Broncos vs. Saints: 5 things to watch for on ‘Thursday Night Football’

The Saints will host the Broncos on ‘Thursday Night Football’ in Week 7. Here are five storylines to keep an eye on.

The Denver Broncos (3-3) will go on the road to face the New Orleans Saints (2-4) in Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season in a Thursday Night Football clash on Oct. 17. Going into the cross-conference matchup, here are five storylines to watch for.

1. Audric Estime’s role on offense: One day after saying he wanted to see Estime and rookie receivers Devaughn Vele and Troy Franklin get opportunities on offense, coach Sean Payton backtracked and said it’s hard to get more than two running backs involved on offense. Perhaps both things can be true — Estime deserves more touches, but the Broncos don’t have enough touches for three running backs. After Javonte Williams lost a fumble and dropped a pass last week, the backfield rotation will be worth monitoring.

2. Ja’Quan McMillian at cornerback: Denver’s final injury report will be released later today and star cornerback Pat Surtain (concussion) seems unlikely to be available for TNF. McMillian has been an excellent slot cornerback for the Broncos, but his play was not quite as refined when he was asked to play on the outside following PS2’s injury on Sunday. McMillian and Riley Moss are expected to serve as the team’s outside cornerbacks in New Orleans with Levi Wallace in the slot.

3. Denver’s defense vs. Spencer Rattler: In his first NFL start last week, Rattler was sacked five times and threw two interceptions. The rookie quarterback completed 55% of his passes for 243 yards with one touchdown. He made a few plays with his legs, rushing four times for 27 yards. Vance Joseph’s blitz-heavy defense and elite secondary could give the rookie headaches, but Denver’s line will need to contain the QB and not let him hurt them on the ground or outside the pocket.

4. Bo Nix’s quest for a complete game: Nix had a pretty good three-game stretch going into last week, then he (and the entire offense) had a dud for three quarters against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Broncos are undefeated (3-0) in games that Nix does not have a turnover this season. Denver needs to get off to a better start on Thursday and not rely on a late rally to get back in the game. Nix needs to stay composed in clean pockets and not get happy feet like he had a tendency to do against the Chargers. The rookie QB seems to be making progress, but he is yet to have a complete game.

5. Sean Payton’s return to New Orleans: Payton, of course, knows the Saints well. New Orleans coach Dennis Allen also knows Payton’s offense well. The Saints will honor former quarterback Drew Brees at halftime, making the night even more emotional for Payton. The coach is doing his best to keep his attention on the game, not his return to New Orleans. Payton is bringing a host of former Saints with him back to the Caesars Superdome, and it would not be surprising to see plays designed specifically for Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Adam Trautman and Michael Burton. Payton has great memories from his time with the Saints, but he would undoubtedly like to get a big win against his former team.

Thursday’s game will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Saints will honor Drew Brees at halftime of Broncos game

Thursday will already be emotional for Broncos coach Sean Payton, and the Saints are adding to it by honoring Drew Brees at halftime of TNF.

Legendary quarterback Drew Brees was elected to the New Orleans Saints’ Hall of Fame this spring, and the team picked a perfect game to honor the retired quarterback following his selection.

The Saints will recognize Brees at halftime of their Thursday Night Football showdown with the Denver Broncos on Oct. 17. It’s a fitting game to honor Brees because that night will also mark coach Sean Payton’s return to the Caesars Superdome.

Payton and Brees, of course, won a Super Bowl together following the 2009 season. It makes sense to honor Brees when Payton is in town, and it’s also smart to try to get Payton’s focus off of the game. The coach has admitted that it will be an emotional night for him.

“Certainly, there will be emotions going back there with players,” Payton said during his conference call on Monday. The coach has emphasized that his first priority is getting a win, but he has acknowledged that Brees’ ceremony is also on his mind.

“For me, I think first off the evening’s about the game,” Payton said. “Then secondly, Brees is getting honored at halftime. I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of flowers and warm fuzzies for yours truly, and I get it. … Listen, I can’t stand losing. It’s about our team and me as the head coach of the Broncos getting ready to play on an early week and trying to play one of our better games.”

Thursday’s game against the Saints will be available to stream on Prime.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Ex-Saints coach Sean Payton gives his honest take on returning to New Orleans

“I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of flowers and warm fuzzies for yours truly, and I get it,” Sean Payton said of his return.

The Denver Broncos have a short turnaround this week. After hosting the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, the Broncos now turn their attention toward a Thursday Night Football showdown with the New Orleans Saints on the road on Oct. 17.

The game will mark Broncos coach Sean Payton’s return to Louisiana to face off against his former team that he won a Super Bowl with following the 2009 season. Payton coached the Saints from 2006-2021 before stepping down in 2022 with a 152-89 record.

After a year out of coaching, Payton landed in Denver in 2023 via trade. The 60-year-old coach was honest was asked about his return to New Orleans during a conference call with reporters on Monday.

“It will be unique,” Payton said. “One of the things we talk about with our players is trying to handle all this stuff ahead of time. I have a great wife whose tickets are done with, family, [and] my children. I think those around us know how challenging the short week is as compared to as if it was a full week. Certainly, there will be emotions going back there with players, but I do think that comes up quite a bit in our league. With players and in this case certainly the amount of time I was there, I understand it. We have to deal with the crowd noise. That place is loud, and you guys know that.

“Fortunately, it’s a short week because I haven’t had [a] chance to dive into all the other stuff. Drew [Brees] is going into their Hall of Fame. They also have a ring of honor, so that’s a separate event [and] soon the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I have already reached out to him, congratulated him and said, ‘This is the first of many.’ I say this, it’s about the game. It’s about the win. The significance of us playing our best football on a short week and it’s about our team. I’ll address that with them tomorrow morning and [say], ‘Hey, let’s understand the significance of getting our fourth win.’ I think that’s the No. 1 thing and then go from there.”

Payton admitted that his first thought is about getting a win, but his second thoguht is about Brees behing honored at halftime. Brees set numerous passing records while playing for Payton in New Orleans.

It will be an emotional night for Payton, but he doesn’t necessarily expect Saints fans to give him a warm welcome.

“I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of flowers and warm fuzzies for yours truly, and I get it,” Payton said.

After dropping to 3-3 with a 23-16 loss to the Chargers on Sunday, Payton and the Broncos will aim to get back on track against the Saints.

“Listen I can’t stand losing,” Payton said. “It’s about our team and me as the head coach of the Broncos getting ready to play on an early week and trying to play one of our better games.”

Thursday’s game against the Saints will be available to stream on Prime.

[vertical-gallery id=620142]

Saints have struggled in prime-time games in the Dennis Allen era

Dennis Allen is 1-5 in night games as Saints head coach. He’s looking for Win No. 2 against Patrick Mahomes in prime time:

The New Orleans Saints haven’t been much of a national commodity since Drew Brees and Sean Payton left. That has been reflected in the amount of primetime games.

The Saints also haven’t performed well in the night games they’ve been given. Dennis Allen is still looking for his second win in prime time as the team’s head coach after going 1-5 the last two years.

To get his second win, he and Klint Kubiak will have to go through the Kansas City Chiefs. The defending Super Bowl champions feature Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and Travis Kelce on offense and Steve Spagnuolo, Nick Bolton, Chris Jones, and Trent McDuffie. The Saints have an equally difficult task on both sides.

The Saints have had impressive wins under Allen, but they typically disappoint in primetime. The only victory came against the Carolina Panthers the year they had the worst record in the NFL.

Let’s repeat that: Allen is 1-5 in night games over the last two seasons. There have been really deflating losses in that bunch. The Saints looked putrid against the Cardinals, when Allen was infamously quoted as telling Andy Dalton “to keep doing what he’s doing” despite throwing a pick-six before halftime.

Then the last time they played in prime time, the Saints set out to prove they could beat a quality team in the Los Angeles Rams. They failed miserably. The situation feels similar to now. The Saints are aiming to prove what kind of team they are. Let’s hope the outcome is different.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Panthers QB Andy Dalton can get closer to very rare feat with win over Bears in Week 5

Panthers QB Andy Dalton has defeated 29 of the NFL’s 32 teams over his 14-year career. He can make it 30 on Sunday.

There are only three NFL teams that haven’t felt the fiery wrath of the “Red Rifle.” But that very short list can be cut down to two on Sunday.

Carolina Panthers starting quarterback Andy Dalton spoke with reporters ahead of his team’s Week 5 visit to see the Chicago Bears. The 36-year-old veteran was asked about returning to the “Windy City,” where he spent one of his 14 pro seasons.

“Yeah, it’ll be fun to be back,” he said on Wednesday. “For me, I think the biggest thing is Chicago is one of the teams that I haven’t beat in my career. There’s only a couple of them, I think there’s three left—and unfortunately, one of them’s the Carolina Panthers, so I’m not gonna be able to do that. But, yeah, Chicago and Dallas, another team that I played for is another one that I haven’t beat.”

Dalton is currently 0-for-2 in his career against the Bears. He and the Cincinnati Bengals took a 24-21 loss to Chicago in 2013 and a 33-7 beatdown in 2017.

But if he keeps up the impressive play from his first two starts, then the third time could be a charm this weekend. And if it is, he can then set his sights on those Cowboys in Week 15.

When it comes to beating the Panthers, that may be another story for another year. Dalton is set to become a free agent at season’s end, so that prospect isn’t completely off the table.

As of now, however, there are only four quarterbacks who have defeated every team in their NFL careers—Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady.

[lawrence-related id=704414,704395,704387]