Javonte Williams rushed for two touchdowns, Wil Lutz kicked four field goals and the visiting Denver Broncos handed the New Orleans Saints their fifth consecutive loss, 33-10, on Thursday night.
The Broncos (4-3) gave second-year coach Sean Payton a victory in his return to the city where he coached the Saints to nine playoff appearances and their only Super Bowl title during his 15 seasons.
Williams rushed for 88 yards and caught three passes for 23 yards, and Bo Nix passed for 164 yards and ran for 75.
Spencer Rattler, the Saints’ rookie fifth-round draft choice, made his second consecutive start in place of injured Derek Carr and completed 25 of 35 passes for 172 yards. He lost two fumbles, and the Saints (2-5) managed just 271 yards as they lost for the third time in 11 days.
New Orleans honored former quarterback Drew Brees at halftime for his induction into the team’s Hall of Fame earlier in the day, but on the Broncos’ first possession of the second half, Lutz, another former Saint, kicked a 38-yard field goal that pushed the lead to 19-3.
Williams’ 5-yard touchdown run increased the lead to 26-3 at the end of the third quarter, and Cody Barton returned Rattler’s fumble 52 yards for a touchdown to complete the Broncos’ scoring with 4:06 left. Jake Haener replaced Rattler and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Cedrick Wilson Jr.
On the Broncos’ second possession, they reached the New Orleans 28-yard line and Lutz kicked a 46-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
A fumble by Rattler gave the ball back to Denver, which drove to the Saints’ 8 before Lutz kicked a 32-yard field goal for a 6-0 lead.
The Broncos then marched 86 yards in eight plays, and Williams ran 8 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
New Orleans had its longest drive of the half when it advanced 62 yards to set up Blake Grupe’s 35-yard field goal. Lutz kicked a 52-yarder with 16 seconds left that gave Denver a 16-3 halftime lead.
–Field Level Media
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