BRONCOS at SAINTS
8:15 p.m., Saints by 1 ½, 37
HANK’S HONEYS: Sean Payton isn’t expecting a warm welcome in his return to the Big Easy, but he should be able to count on a win that is both big and easy. Derek Carr is out. Chris Olave is out. Rashid Shaheed is probably out. Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill are hurting. And the Saints are leaning on a rookie QB in Spencer Rattler against what has been on of the NFL’s top defenses after their own defense allowed 51 points to the Bucs. Gone are those heady first two weeks. This team is in big trouble. Kamara is always a threat, but he doesn’t figure to see mush running room. Bo Nix has struggled at times in his rookie season, but has only turned the ball over once during Denver’s recent 3-1 SU surge. Payton has coached around his young quarterback’s struggles, and with field position on his side, he can probably rely even more on his running game more this week the way the Saints miss tackles. Broncos CB Patrick Surtain is unlikely to get through concussion protocol on such a short week, but it couldn’t be a better week to miss against this passing attack. The Broncos can get after the quarterback and the Saints’ O-line has been springing leaks. The total is low since most Thursday night games go under but it’s a little too low considering the points the New Orleans defense has been giving up. The Saints have gone over this total in five of their six games, the Broncos in two straight weeks.
IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Broncos and the over.