Short weeks can be hard on NFL teams with less time to prepare than usual, and that puts the New Orleans Saints in a tough spot as they open Week 7 with a visit from the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football. Starting quarterback Derek Carr is expected to miss multiple weeks with an oblique injury he suffered in a Week 5 loss to the Chiefs, and the Saints will once again turn to rookie Spencer Rattler under center for another trial-by-fire start. Rattler made his first NFL start on Sunday against the Buccaneers and went 22-of-40 for 243 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in a 51-27 blowout loss.
Rattler wasn’t the issue as much as the Saints defense was β the unit gave up nearly 600 yards of offense to Tampa Bay. The Broncos, led by fellow rookie QB Bo Nix, will be looking for a bounce-back performance after a 23-16 loss in Week 6 to the Los Angeles Chargers, in which they didn’t score until the fourth quarter. Nix has completed just over 61% of his throws this season and has five touchdown passes and five interceptions on the year heading into Week 7.
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Live13 updates
Paulson Adebo’s right leg put into vacuum splint
According to Amazon’s Kaylee Hartung, Paulson Adebo’s right leg was put into a vacuum splint.
Al Michaels said on air that they weren’t going to show a replay of Adebo’s injury.
Saints CB Paulson Adebo got carted off the field after going down on the previous play with an apparent leg injury.
Paulson Adebo is hurt, down on the field after making a tackle.
Trainers are applying an aircast and he’s going to be carted off the field.
Offsides penalty wipes out Broncos touchdown
Another Spencer Rattler fumble was recovered by the Broncos’ Cody Barton, who ran it back for an apparent touchdown.
However, an offsides penalty on D.J. Jones wipes out the touchdown.
Field goal: Broncos 6, Saints 0
The Broncos stall inside the Saints’ 10-yard line and have to settle for a field goal.
Wil Lutz kicks a 32-yarder to give Denver a 6β0 lead.
End of 1st quarter: Broncos 3, Saints 0
Denver dominated time of possession in the first quarter (holding the ball for more than 11 minutes), helped by Spencer Rattler’s fumble.
Bo Nix completed a 12-yard pass to Troy Franklin for the final play of the quarter. Denver starts 1st-and-10 from the Saints’ 17-yard line.
Saints turn it over
Spencer Rattler is sacked for a seven-yard loss by Cody Barton. He appeared to fumble, which was reviewed to see if his arm was coming forward before losing the ball. But replays confirmed the call on the field. The fumble recovery by Kwon Alexander stands.
Broncos take over at their 45-yard line after the turnover.
Broncos take 3-0 lead on field goal
Denver’s second possession stalls out at the Saints’ 28-yard line. On 4th-and-3, Wil Lutz kicks a 46-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 3β0 lead.
Broncos driving on their 2nd possession
After that drive-opening 32-yard pass, the Saints can’t get a first down on their next three plays and have to punt.
Denver takes over and is moving the ball. They’ve gained positive yardage on the first six plays of their second possession, highlighted by a 20-yard catch and run from Devaughn Vele.
Spencer Rattler’s first pass goes for 32 yards
New Orleans is also starting a rookie quarterback tonight with Spencer Rattler. His first pass of the Saints’ opening possession goes 32 yards to Foster Mo
Bo Nix misses wide-open Troy Franklin
Bo Nix has gotten yardage with his legs, rushing twice for 22 yards on the Broncos’ opening possession. But he missed a wide-open Troy Franklin for what might have been a touchdown on the fifth play of the drive.
Bo Nix’s ground game effectve so far
On Denver’s first play of the game, Bo Nix scrambles for 14 yards.
Two plays later, he runs for eight yards on a run-pass option.
“That will be the hardest part”
Talking to Amazon’s Charissa Thompson, Broncos coach Sean Payton admitted it will be difficult to coach against players he coached on the Saints.
“That will be the hardest part. When the game ends, I’ve got a lump in my throat just thinking about it… They’re special”
— Sean Payton on seeing his former players tonight like Demario Davis and Cam Jordan pic.twitter.com/ziBCYRl8zz
Cornerback Patrick Surtain II headlines the Broncos inactives for Week 7’s “Thursday Night Football” matchup. For the Saints, receiver Chris Olave is among the notable names out tonight along with Taysom Hill.