<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0SQFfC_0wBMG1b200" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0SQFfC_0wBMG1b200" width="1200" height="630" >The New Orleans Saints play host to the Denver Broncos in a game that brings former Saints coach Sean Payton back to the Superdome for the first time since he left the team after the 2021 season. You can follow here for the score and live updates.Payton had a 152-89 mark during his time in New Orleans after taking over the team for the 2006 season, leading the team to a Super Bowl title to cap off a memorable 2009 season.The Broncos and Saints last played in the regular season in 2020 with New Orleans earning a 31-3 win in Denver.You can follow along below for the latest from the Caesars Superdome.UPDATED, 10:18 p.m.: Denver recovers the onside kick, and that should do it.Broncos 33, Saints 10, and this certainly was one of the low points in the last 20 years of Saints history.UPDATED, 10:15 p.m.: Jake Haener into the game for Rattler, who was really getting beat up in this second half.And Haener is leading a nice drive, hitting Cedrick Wilson to convert a fourth down – and now he's got a touchdown to Wilson.So it's 33-10 and just slightly more respectable, I guess? 1:22 left.UPDATED, 10:01 p.m.: Yeah, it didn't get more respectable. Rattler does convert one fourth down on a pass to Wilson, but he's sacked, fumbled and it's recovered and returned for a touchdown by Cody Barton. That's a 52-yard return.It's 33-3.UPDATED, 9:58 p.m.: Saints defense keeps its streak alive of forcing a turnover in every game. This one was a fumble from Audric Estimé. Forced and recovered by Willie Gay.About six minutes left. Saints offense will try to make it a bit more respectable.UPDATED, 9:53 p.m.: Not a lot going on in the fourth quarter of this one. Still 26-3 with 7:25 left.You can join us for the postgame show and leave comments and questions live at this link.UPDATED, 9:31 p.m.: At the end of the third quarter, and I'd guess at last 50% of the fans left in the Dome are wearing orange.It's Broncos 26, Saints 3.I haven't seriously thought there was a chance Dennis Allen could be fired midseason — it's just not the way the Saints operate — but tonight is making me at least consider the possibility.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are three days away from the 28th anniversary of this great moment in Saints history. Which seems fitting. <a href="https://t.co/NxsMiOwHLq">pic.twitter.com/NxsMiOwHLq</a>— Perryn Keys (@PerrynKeys) <a href="https://twitter.com/PerrynKeys/status/1847101238472507426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>UPDATED, 9:25 p.m.: So much for the offensive rhythm. Saints commit three penalties on the next four plays to put themselves in second-and-28.Then Rattler is sacked, and it's third-and-34. Screen pass to Bub Means, who runs hard and gets about 14 yards back, but that'll be another punt.We're into the final minute of the third quarter as Denver begins its latest drive.UPDATED, 9:21 p.m.: OK, here's something positive: The Saints didn't go three-and-out. Rattler completes to Cedrick Wilson for 9, then Jamaal Williams gets 2 on third-and-1 on a pitch play to pick up a first down. Now Rattler completes to Tipton for 9 on the next play and Williams gets another first down.Some offensive rhythm. How about that?UPDATED, 9:14 p.m.: Marshon Lattimore is in the injury tent. Bo Nix is rumbling free down the sideline inside the 10. That's a 33-yard gain.Now it's a touchdown for Javonte Williams. 26-3 Broncos.I wish I had something positive to type, I really do. But it ain't there tonight.UPDATED, 9:12 p.m.: Saints go three-and-out again. This is getting dreary.Nix completes a long pass down the middle to Lucas Krull for 22 yards. The Saints are being whipped by their old coach with some old castoff players on Drew Brees' big night. Pretty depressing night for the franchise.UPDATED, 9:04 p.m.: Saints go three-and-out to start the second half, and now the Broncos are on the march again, mostly with the running game.The Saints defense does stiffen down at the 20, so it's Lutz for the fourth time tonight.This one is from 38 yards, and he's 4-for-4. 19-3 Denver.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“It seems like they want their coach fired.” Love <a href="https://twitter.com/RSherman_25?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSherman_25</a>. Keeping it real on the Saints.— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) <a href="https://twitter.com/TyDunne/status/1847092584159592503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>UPDATED, 8:48 p.m.: "To the greatest city, to the greatest team, to the greatest fan base in all of professional sports, I love you all," Drew says.Then he does a very convoluted "win" cheer that actually sounded pretty good. These fans will do anything for Drew Brees.The way things are going, they also may do anything to get rid of Dennis Allen.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Alvin Kamara just turned to the Saints sideline after getting waylaid on the short dump-off pass before halftime and gestured demonstrably. He's not happy to say the least. Can't say as I blame him, either.— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncan_) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffDuncan_/status/1847090817690652705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>UPDATED, 8:42 p.m.: The Saints ran a screen play, then called timeout. Ran another, called another timeout. Then they kneel on the ball.What a strange end to the half. It's 16-3 Broncos, and the boos are being unleashed by those who care enough to make any noise.The Drew Brees Hall of Fame induction is beginning. It'll be by far the Saints' highlight of the night so far.UPDATED, 8:38 p.m.: Nix will scramble, but he's forced out by Bryan Bresee before he can get the first down.It's fourth-and-2, and the Broncos send on Lutz for another field goal attempt. This is a long one, 52 yards. Would be Lutz's season long.It's good. 16-3 Broncos with 16 seconds left in the half.UPDATED, 8:36 p.m.: Oh my gosh, Tyrann Mathieu just dropped the easiest interception he'd ever make (and he's made a lot). Nix threw it right to him under pressure.He had plenty of room to run on the return, too. Probably would have gotten the Saints across 50 and maybe even into field goal range.Instead, of course, Nix dumps it off to Marvin Mims, who runs for the first down, and the Broncos are across the 50. We're down to 40 seconds. Broncos do have one timeout left.Nix scrambles for 3 yards on second-and-10, and the Broncos use that timeout with 27 seconds left.UPDATED, 8:29 p.m.: Rattler barely escapes pressure and gets it Moreau, who fights his way inside the 20 to the 17, which is still 5 yards short of the first down.That will bring us to the 2-minute warning.Blake Grupe is on to try a 35-yard field goal. It's good, and the Saints are on the board. It's 13-3 Broncos with 1:57 left before halftime.UPDATED, 8:24 p.m.: Saints try a reverse to Kamara, and it gets blown up. A loss of 7.It's tough for any offense to convert second-and-17 (insert your Chiefs vs. Saints joke here), but it's especially tough for this offense. Rattler completes a short pass to Tipton for 6 yards to make it third-and-11, and Denver will stop the clock again at 2:27.UPDATED, 8:22 p.m.: Rattler on third-and-2 again, this time from midfield, and this time after he escapes pressure at the line he has nothing but green turf in front of him. He gets almost 30 before he's shepherded out of bounds.First down at the Broncos 22, and Denver calls its first timeout with 3:09 left in the half.UPDATED, 8:20 p.m.: Saints have gone three-and-out again, with Rattler scrambling for a yard on third-and-2 and going out of bounds just shy of the sticks. Boos rain down when the punt team comes out.Now Dennis Allen has called timeout, and the Saints are gonna go for it.It's play-action, and Rattler lobs the ball over a lineman's hand to Juwan Johnson, who's going to pick up about 12 yards. Phew.The Saints really, really, really needed that. Now we'll see if they can do something with it.UPDATED, 8:14 p.m.: Javonte Williams just ran through a hole as wide as the Crescent City Connection for an 8-yard touchdown. The Saints are getting dominated, 13-0.We're exactly halfway through the second quarter, and the Saints don't even have 5 minutes of possession.UPDATED, 8:12 p.m.: Paulson Adebo just got carted off with an air cast on his lower right leg, so add some more injury to insult.The Saints' defense, honestly, hasn't been hit nearly as hard as the offense by the injury bug, and it's still getting gashed. Denver has not gotten to midfield on all four of its drives, and now Nix has a completion on the run to Franklin for a big gain inside the 30.It's early, but this game already feels like it's on the brink.UPDATED, 8:02 p.m.: Saints drive stalls after the one first down via penalty. Rattler went deep for Tipton on first down, and Tipton wanted a flag after he fell. Looked like his hand got tugged on, but I don't think you usually get that call.Rattler then had a short completion to Juwan Johnson but was incomplete under pressure on third down.So the time of possession battle isn't getting less lopsided. Good punt coverage from Rico Payton on the punt, at least, and Denver starts back at its 14.UPDATED, 7:59 p.m.: Well, Spencer Rattler just bounced the ball to himself, then got sacked, fumbled and had it returned for a touchdown.BUT it was offside, which Rattler apparently knew, because he immediately pointed to the Denver defense.Now another offside against the Broncos, so that's a free first down. Hey, the Saints may have found a way to move the ball.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">New Orleans' red-zone defense makes another stand. The one silver lining for the unit this season.— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) <a href="https://twitter.com/Matthew_Paras/status/1847078556502769722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>UPDATED, 7:53 p.m.: The Broncos held the ball for more than 11 minutes of that first quarter. That's ... a big problem in a game like this.But it's third-and-2 Denver from the Saints' 9. Get a stop here, and it's only 6-0, no matter how bad things have gone thus far.Play-action, and Nix has all day to throw. Young finally gets some pressure, and Nix's pass is batted down by Willie Gay.Broncos are going for it. It's fourth and a long yard. They're just trying to draw the Saints off, and instead they'll take a delay of game.So here's Lutz for a 32-yard field goal. He's good again, and it's 6-0 Denver.UPDATED, 7:47 p.m.: Saints defense just getting gashed on the ground. That's something you can't do against a team that's having trouble throwing it, but the Broncos are just rumbling right down the field after the Rattler fumble.Broncos are already up to 100 yards of offense, and no one is mistaking them for a juggernaut.Final play of the first quarter is a play-action completion from Nix to Troy Franklin to put the Broncos in the red zone.It's only 3-0 for now, but that was a mighty troublesome first quarter for the Saints.UPDATED, 7:40 p.m.: A couple of runs set up third-and-short, and then Rattler is able to complete to Bub Means for the first down.That's the formula for New Orleans: Stay ahead of the chains and then keep Denver guessing on third-and-short.Here's not the formula: Rattler doesn't see the blind-side blitz coming, Cody Barton rocks him right before he can throw, and it's a fumble recovered by Denver.Vance Joseph, a New Orleans native, has been dialing up blitzes at the right time all season, and that fumble was recovered by Kwon Alexander, a former LSU star.UPDATED, 7:34 p.m.: Broncos are driving again, and this time they've gotten deeper into Saints territory with a nice mix of runs and passes. The Saints are having trouble stopping the run and getting pressure on Nix with their front four. That's a bad combo.Anfernee Orji comes up with a tackle for loss to set up third-and-6 at the Saints 31. Chase Young should have had a sack and went right past Nix, who then scrambles to the left and nearly got the first down. Demario Davis kept that from being a disaster.Instead, it's Lutz on for a 46-yard field goal. He comes out to boos. Not sure what Lutz did to deserve that after he was traded, but the field goal is good to quiet them. Broncos lead 3-0 with 5:28 left in the quarter. UPDATED, 7:29 p.m.: That's it for the Saints offense, too. Rattler throws an ill-advised deep ball for Mason Tipton on second down that's nearly picked off, then hits Cedrick Wilson, but only for 7 yards on third-and-9.Matthew Hayball's punt dies ... 1 yard inside the end zone. Almost had a great kick, instead Denver will start its second drive at the 20.UPDATED, 7:25 p.m.: Play-action and Rattler rolls to the left and hits Foster Moreau for a 32-yard gain. Wow. Nice play call from Klint Kubiak, and the Saints are suddenly out to the 40.UPDATED, 7:22 p.m.: OK, so maybe the Saints can't stop the Broncos offense, but Bo Nix can.He fires in between two wide-open receivers on first down, somehow landing in to where neither had a chance at it, then misses on the run on second down and throws it into the turf under pressure on third down.Should have had the completion on first down, and could have run for about 10 yards on second down. Instead, Denver punts; it's a good one, and the Saints will start their first drive at their own 8-yard line.UPDATED, 7:19 p.m.: Points are going to be at a premium tonight, so every drive matters. Bo Nix starts things off with a 14-yard gain on a scramble, and suddenly the Broncos, who also had a nice kickoff return, are near midfield.Nix on an option keeper on the next series and picks up another first down. Denver already close to Lutz's field goal range against a Saints defense that suddenly can't stop anybody.UPDATED, 7:15 p.m.: They just finished pregame introductions, and after announcing each of the defensive starters, Drew Brees came out to (obviously) thundering applause.It's a little unorthodox to have a former player come out and high-five the whole team before the team, but it sure fired the crowd up.Now for the coin toss. Wil Lutz calls heads for the Broncos, the coin lands tails, and Cam Jordan defers for the Saints. So Denver gets the ball first.And guess who dat is doing the Who Dat chant: It's Drew Brees, of course.We're ready for Thursday Night Football.UPDATED, 6:54 p.m.: It's kind of a weird atmosphere in the Dome tonight. Not sure people know how to act, between Payton's return and Brees' ceremony and the team's struggles.It would probably help if the Saints played well and took a lead early. They've had some dreary losses in home games at prime time lately. In fact, the Saints have lost five straight regular-season night games at the Superdome: last year to Jacksonville, two years ago to Baltimore on a Monday night, then three straight in 2021, including blowout losses to Buffalo on Thanksgiving and to Miami on a Monday night.That last game was with Ian Book at quarterback; he's the last rookie to start at QB for the Saints until Rattler did it last week.UPDATED, 6:01 p.m.: Welcome to the Saints live blog, a special Thursday night edition.It's a big night here in the Superdome: Drew Brees is being inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame, Sean Payton is returning as a visiting coach, and oh yeah, the Saints are trying to snap a four-game losing streak with a backup quarterback.Derek Carr is not the Saints' only injury problem, of course: Chris Olave is out with a concussion and Rashid Shaheed is out for the season, so Spencer Rattler is working with a bunch of backup receivers. Taysom Hill is also inactive.On the defensive side, Pete Werner and Khalen Saunders are inactive, so that side is shorthanded as well.A few morsels of good news: star cornerback Patrick Surtain is out for the Broncos (concussion), and the Saints do have Lucas Patrick active as well as Kendre Miller, who will make his season debut tonight.</div></body>

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Saints vs. Broncos score: Follow along for live updates as Sean Payton returns to New Orleans

The New Orleans Saints play host to the Denver Broncos in a game that brings former Saints coach Sean Payton back to the Superdome for the first time since he left the team after the 2021 season. You can follow here for the score and live updates. Payton had a...

Saints vs. Broncos score: Follow along for live updates as Sean Payton returns to New Orleans

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