Contrary to what most expected when schedules were released for the 2024 season, Thursday's matchup between the Broncos and Saints is not a game between veteran quarterback Derek Carr and rookie starter Bo Nix.
Rather, the youngster will face off against his fellow draftee Spencer Rattler, who was selected by New Orleans in the fifth round after Nix was taken 12th overall by Denver. A starting quarterback for both Oklahoma and South Carolina during his college career, Rattler replaced Carr after he went down with an oblique injury in Week 5.
Nix was a member of the SEC at Auburn when Rattler was at Oklahoma while the Sooners were still members of the Big 12, and they barely missed each other when the former transferred to Oregon in 2022, the same year the latter got his start in Columbia.
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Thursday, they finally get their chance to compete in New Orleans, a matchup that also marks Broncos head coach Sean Payton's first game against his former team. In 16 seasons with the Saints, Payton took his squad, headed almost his entire tenure by legendary quarterback Drew Brees, to three NFC Championship Games.
It also included a Super Bowl victory in 2010 when Brees upset Payton Manning's Colts 31-17 for the franchise's first title. Now, Payton leads Manning's second team after a 2023 trade between the franchises, seeking his second Super Bowl win and Denver's fourth overall.
Nix & Co. enter the matchup at an even 3-3 through Week 6, favored to beat 2-4 New Orleans in a close game. Here's everything to know about Broncos vs. Saints, including live scores, updates, and highlights from the NFL "Thursday Night Football" contest.
Thursday's game between the Broncos and Saints is set to kick off at 8:15 p.m. ET (7:15 p.m. local time) from Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La.
The Broncos vs. Saints Week 7 matchup won't be broadcast nationally in the U.S., with the only viewing options accessible through streaming on Amazon Prime and NFL+.
Canadian viewers can watch live on TSN1 and CTV2 or livestream the game through DAZN NFL.
Here's a look at Denver's upcoming games after Thursday's matchup.
Here's a look at New Orleans' upcoming games after Thursday's matchup.