Cheers for Javonte Williams — and look for a Broncos-Saints trade at deadline | Cheers and boos

Two cheers, two boos from the Broncos’ 33-10 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday:

Cheers!

To Javonte Williams, who continues to run like his paycheck depends on it. One of the nicest dudes in the Broncos locker room, who worked his tail off to overcome a blown-out knee, “Pookie” had 88 rushing yards. That’s his most in a game since Dec. 5, 2021. A free agent after this season, Williams likely has 10 games left in his Broncos career. Here’s hoping he runs wild.

Boo…

OK, Drew Brees. Don’t frighten Broncos Country. Fresh off his induction into the Saints Hall of Fame, Brees joined the Prime Video broadcast and said of Broncos quarterback Bo Nix: “He looks like Taysom Hill!” Hey, we are well-aware the Saints’ dual-threat QB beat the Broncos 31-3 in 2020. But if Nix is the second-coming of Hill, Sean Payton has some explaining to do.

Cheers!

… to the Broncos Country folks who planned ahead for a trip to New Orleans, the best weekend among this country’s major cities. Southwest flights from DEN to MSY sold out quick, you know. With that in mind, the best confirmed dude trip on Denver's 2025 schedule is Philadelphia. Gather your buds, stuff your belly at Reading Market and be nice to the locals.

Boo…

The lack of paper bags in the Saints crowd. Yes, the Saints played without six starters. Yes, they've lost five straight and have two road games coming up next. So why was there only one bag-over-the-head look shown on the broadcast? And look for the Saints to be sellers at the trade deadline. And you know who loves ex-Saints? The man of the night, Sean Payton.

—Paul Klee, The Denver Gazette