The New Orleans Saints (2-4) have lost four straight entering Thursday's game against Denver (3-3) in the Caesars Superdome.
The urgency to end the streak overrides the sideshow that will be the return to New Orleans of Denver Coach Sean Payton, the Saints' head coach from 2006-21, the franchise all-time leader in coaching victories and the man who led New Orleans to success in Super Bowl XLIV.
The Saints need a win. Here are a few ways they can accomplish the goal:
1. RUN FOR RATTLER
New Orleans will start rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler for the second straight game. Rattler was solid in his NFL debut – 22 of 40 for 243 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions and five sacks, while running for 27 yards on four carries – but he'll need a lot more support from the running game, which produced 81 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries against Tampa Bay. The possible return of Taysom Hill and addition of Kendre Miller to the lineup should help ease the load on Alvin Kamara, who was held to 40 yards on 13 carries against the Buccaneers.
2. KEEP IT TIGHT
Losing receiver Chris Olave (concussion) for this game is significant. Additionally, losing Rashid Shaheed (knee) guts the group, robbing it of its two best players and the only ones who've made any semblance of an impact for the Saints. Rookies Bub Means (five catches, 45 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay) and Mason Tipton rise to the top of the depth chart and if that's the case, tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau probably will have prominent roles in the passing game. Johnson and Moreau combined for 102 yards on five catches against the Bucs, the most productive tight-end day this season. Their presence is security for the rookie quarterback. Kamara and Hill also can help boost the passing game.
3. WHAT DOES BO KNOW?
Rattler isn't the only rookie quarterback starter in this one. Denver's Bo Nix has started all six games for the Broncos and has completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,082 yards with five touchdowns, and five interceptions. He only has thrown one interception in the past four games, so the defense will have to create opportunities from a quarterback who has protected the ball. The Saints had three picks against Tampa Bay and have 10 this season, but that number only will increase in conjunction with pressure. Four sacks in the last three games just isn't good enough. Nix only has been sacked nine times and has run for 180 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries. The number of times mobile quarterbacks have caused severe damage to the Saints' defense in the last three to four seasons easily tops 10 and may scratch the low 20s. Getting close isn't working often enough; getting Nix on the ground is paramount. Can Dennis Allen's defense confuse the rookie?
4. DON'T BEAT YOURSELF
New Orleans needs to be the cleanest version of itself, to help Rattler. That means pre-snap offensive penalties and pesky, spirit-snatching penalties on defense must be minimized. New Orleans is deep enough into the season for some of these issues to be a lot less glaring and frequent.
5. FEED THE BEAST
While Saints players and coaches have worked to concentrate on the task and not the circus surrounding Payton's return, fans don't have any such responsibilities or restrictions. They fervently want to see these Saints attach an 'L' to Payton's resume, and they'll be on edge. If the team can get off to an early start, and keep the crowd involved, that'll go a long way toward providing an adrenaline boost. Obviously, this is a big game for a team that last lost four straight, but it also carries a great deal of weight for a fan base that Payton helped rejuvenate after Hurricane Katrina.
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