The Denver Broncos are still licking their wounds after a tough home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, but they can’t hang their heads for too long as they have a quick turnaround this week, playing on Thursday Night Football.
This game will take place on the road against the New Orleans Saints. That means Sean Payton will be back to coach the team he coached for 15 seasons, leading them to their only Super Bowl. When the 2024 NFL schedule was released, it was a game that many NFL fans were circling on their calendars.
For the first time this season, the Broncos will be in the prime-time television spotlight. They will face a Saints team that has lost four games in a row and is desperate to get back into the win column.
Payton was asked about his return to New Orleans Monday.
“Certainly there will be emotions getting back there with the players, but I think that comes up a lot in our league. With the players – and, in this case, certainly the time I spent there – I understand.”
“It’s about the game. “It’s about [getting] victory. The importance of playing our best football in a short week, and that concerns our team. I’ll talk to them about it tomorrow morning and [say]“Hey, let’s understand the importance of getting our fourth victory.” I think that’s the number one thing, and then go from there.”
As is the case every time this situation arises with players and coaches, that player or coach isn’t giving much away about how they feel about coming back. It’s always a business and team-oriented response and that’s what we got from Payton.
Thursday night’s broadcast, however, will make a big deal out of it. Payton took over a franchise that had only one playoff victory in its history before his arrival. He made the Saints a perennial Super Bowl contender and will always be remembered for his time in New Orleans.
But those days are gone and Payton will now have to focus on getting the Broncos a fourth win of the season while sending the Saints to a fifth straight loss and will likely have to do it without his best defensive player, Pat Surtain. II.
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