Javonte Thunder, Auburn Bo and Barton Breakout mark the Broncos' win

The Denver Broncos are back on the road to success in a big way. They beat the New Orleans Saints 33-10 in a game that wasn't as close as the stunning final score would suggest. Sean Payton returned as coach against the Super Bowl-winning Saints, and it was an emotional day for him.

The Broncos are now 4-3 and have a mini-bye week coming up. They'll play the Carolina Panthers again in 10 days – a game that looks very winnable at this point.

After the game, Payton praised his team's performance.

“I thought it was a good team win. We did a lot of things well tonight that we talk about statistically. You're constantly adapting to the short weekly schedule when you're at home and away. We've been talking about a quick start all week. I thought they took care of the mental part. It's really easy to complain in a short week and soon no one cares anymore. I thought our preparation for these two days was good. I didn't want to go through all the stats with them. The lead in the first half is much better for these teams. As for me, I know I wouldn't tell them we were 5-0 with the lead and 0-5 when we weren't leading. That's the last thing I wanted to say to them. Of course I thought we ran the ball well. Defensively we had pressure. They're stolen. I told Dennis Allen to get well. They have a good football team. Many of their players were unable to play at the moment. Overall, I’m happy with our game,” Payton said.

Here are three observations from the Broncos' win over the Saints in Week 7.

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Thunder thrived

A big reason the Broncos were able to win is running back Javonte Williams. Against a poor attacking Saints defense, Williams' thunderous style proved successful.

For one game, Williams looked like the player he once was before suffering a devastating knee injury early in the 2022 season. Williams ran over the defenders and moved his legs to move the chains.

His powerful style was on full display and that physicality set the tone for the Broncos offense. Williams finished the game with 14 carries for 88 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

Payton liked what he saw from Williams.

“He must have been good. I haven't seen all the numbers. We actually wanted to come out early, include the run and the reading option. Bo (Nix) did a great job. We received a penalty that was impossible. He threw the ball in 0.5 seconds and we were called down (illegal downfield pass). It cannot happen, that is, it is an impossibility. I thought it all worked out. We blocked them. You immediately get a feeling for how they fit together. From the end of the second quarter the pressure was really on. We got a lot more leeway from this team tonight, maybe to keep a better eye on Bo. He did a good job with his feet. Javonte had some really good runs. When you have a night like this full of hustle and possession, the script has been flipped a bit compared to last week. Luckily our defense gave them some rest,” Payton said.

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Auburn Bo

Bo Nix is ​​a running quarterback. Well, that wasn't who he was in college at Oregon – even if he could run to run. However, it was the type of dual-threat quarterback he was when he left high school and went to Auburn.

We don't see Oregon Bo yet, but we definitely see Auburn Bo almost weekly. Nix is ​​not yet polished as a passer. In fact, his footwork is poor and needs improvement. This will improve his accuracy and pass placement – especially when he is forced to throw on the move. Nix overthrew tight end Lucas Krull and underthrew wide receiver Troy Franklin (on the same play), which would have amounted to a passing touchdown.

While Nix did not record a passing score in Week 7 and finished the game with just 164 yards, he finished the game as the team's second-leading rusher behind Williams. Nix had 10 carries for 75 yards, including a 32-yard run that capped his day on the ground. As he learns to become a better pro passer, Nix is ​​shredding defenses on the ground and is the team's second-leading rusher through seven games.

Nix is ​​also one of only four quarterbacks in the NFL to rush for 250 or more yards so far in the 2024 season. It's not what many expected, but it's what he does best to help his team win games. Nix joins Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels and Kyler Murray as the only quarterbacks to surpass that mark this season.

Payton remains confident in his young quarterback as he learns the pro game.

“I had made that comment earlier when we convened him. When you watch him play, you don't feel like you're in danger. He's hard to fire. He has a good ball position. He plays with his feet a lot. He has some great play options. Being a playcaller gives you the confidence that allows you to be more aggressive. We wanted to perform with that attitude tonight,” Payton said.

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Barton eruption

I liked when the Broncos added inside linebacker Cody Barton earlier this year. The team has struggled to find good players at the position since the days of Danny Trevathan and I felt like Barton could finally solve that for the team.

I didn't think Barton had a breakthrough like he did against the Saints.

Barton was everywhere against the Saints. He performed as expected in coverage, but was also involved in many run plays. Barton finished the game with eight tackles and a sack. However, it was his big play in the fourth quarter that sealed the game.

In the final third, Barton recovered a fumble from Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler and ran into the end zone for a 52-yard score. That touchdown gave the Broncos a 33-3 lead and offset the fumble recovery for a touchdown that was called back due to an offsides penalty on defensive tackle DJ Jones.

After the game, Barton talked about what it's like to play in a defense where everyone can make a play.

“It’s fun to be in this defense. It's aggressive. Everyone has the opportunity to eat. Today I feel like it was my day, so to speak. Some of those bigger splash plays came my way. If this game were tomorrow, you wouldn't know who it would be. That's what this defense is like. “It’s a lot of fun just walking around,” Barton said.

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