Broncos-Saints Open Thread: Sean Payton returns to New Orleans

Tonight's Thursday Night Football game has not one but two rookie quarterbacks duking it out. You have the Denver Broncos and Bo Nix, and then the New Orleans Saints with Spencer Rattler. Derek Carr has been listed as doubtful all week.

So this means we get to watch the rookies. Overshadowing that is the return of Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton to New Orleans. Payton won a Super Bowl with the Saints in the 2010 season. Payton may be a bigger storyline than the rookie QBs.

Nix has been starting all season. Something that seems obvious when your competition is Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham. The Broncos are 3-3 with some ugly, ugly losses. They lost to the Seattle Seahawks after getting two safeties on Seattle and then were executed by field goals via the Pittsburgh Steelers the following week, 13-3 (yes, there's a touchdown in there for the Steelers also).

Rattler got a start last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and will be starting tonight as well. The Buccaneers game might be something he wants to forget as they got smashed 51-27. The Saints were up by four points going into the half but then the Buccaneers came back and scored 27 unanswered points. As you might guess, the Saints scored none. The only two games the Saints have won were in the NFL season's first two weeks against the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys .

FanDuel Sportsbook has the Broncos favored by 2.5 points . I'll take the rookie quarterback. That other rookie quarterback. The Saints' rookie quarterback. Give me the points with the Saints, and then pray the defense keeps this close. The Saints have injury issues, but I'll take 2.5 points since I don't feel great about either. That under has me quaking in my boots, too. 36.5 is tough, but I'll take the under in this.

Be optimistic; this could be fun.