October 18th 2024.
On Thursday night, before the game began, something rare happened in New Orleans. Gameday Sean, also known as Sean Payton, did something unexpected - he smiled. Known for his intense demeanor on game days, Sean briefly let his guard down on the visiting sideline. He hugged his kids and his former quarterback, and even shared some high fives. He even embraced Saints owner Gayle Benson and gave a sweet kiss to his wife. For a brief moment, he took in the scene before getting back into his usual game day mode.
But Sean's relaxed moment didn't last long. As expected, he led his team to a lopsided victory at the Superdome. However, this time, something was different. For the first time, Sean unleashed his famous "Club Dub" celebration in the visiting locker room instead of the home side. It was a special game for Sean, as he returned to New Orleans where he spent many successful years as the head coach of the Saints. And what a return it was - with the Denver Broncos dominating on both sides of the ball and ultimately defeating the Saints 33-10 in primetime.
The Broncos put on an impressive display, dominating on the ground and on defense. They ran for a whopping 225 yards, their highest total in over 11 years, and their veteran offensive line was in top form. They also continued their strong defensive start to the season, making life difficult for the Saints' rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler. On the other hand, the Broncos' own rookie quarterback, Bo Nix, had a fantastic game, living up to the expectations that Sean had for him when he was selected as the 12th overall pick in the draft.
It was a convincing win for the Broncos, and it couldn't have happened at a better place - in New Orleans, where Sean's return was filled with nostalgia and old memories. The day before the game, New Orleans celebrated the induction of their former quarterback Drew Brees into the Saints' Hall of Fame. Sean and some of the Broncos' coaches, including offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael, and offensive coach Zach Strief, couldn't resist attending the celebration.
When asked about it, Sean explained that they couldn't pass up the opportunity to attend the event, especially since they were staying just down the street. But as soon as the game began, it was all business for Sean and the offensive braintrust. They had designed the game plan to make Nix as comfortable as possible, with a variety of run-game options and manageable throws. And for the most part, it was a success, with the Broncos continuously moving the ball and generating multiple first downs in the first half.
However, there were some hiccups, as Nix missed a couple of throws and was lucky to avoid an interception. But these minor mistakes were overshadowed by the dominant performance of the Broncos' defense. Playing without star cornerback Pat Surtain II, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph's unit only allowed the Saints to gain five first downs in the first half. And they continued their dominance throughout the game, with outside linebacker Nik Bonitto extending his sack streak to five games and safety Ja'Quan McMillian bouncing back from a tough game and playing at a high level.
It was an emotional game for Sean, as he returned to the place where he had spent nearly two decades of his career. But he downplayed the emotion and focused on the game. However, those who know him well predicted that he would want this win more than any other regular-season game in his career. And they were right - as former New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister said, "He will push it all the way in."
As the game progressed and the Broncos continued to dominate, Sean's energy seemed to increase. During the pregame stretch, he even had an extra pep in his step and appeared to have a bit more swagger than usual. It was clear that Gameday Sean was back in the Bayou and feeling right at home. And with this convincing win, the Broncos have shown that they are the team that Sean has been striving to build since he arrived in Denver 21 months ago.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
