Saints legend Sean Payton returns to New Orleans as Broncos coach

The game: Denver (3-3) and New Orleans (2-4)

The plot: Denver coach Sean Payton returns to New Orleans for the first time since 2022, when he stepped down after 15 seasons as coach of the Saints, a streak that included the franchise's only Super Bowl title. Payton downplayed the impact that the emotions of the visit will have on the game itself, as did Dennis Allen, the longtime Saints assistant who succeeded Payton.

The stakes: Payton's return will make for a lengthy highlight clip on Amazon's Thursday Night Football, but the more pressing question is which team will return to winning ways. After starting 0-2, the Broncos rebounded to win three straight. However, that streak ended on Sunday when their offense managed just 60 yards in the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers, putting the team in a hole it couldn't overcome despite a late goal. The Saints' season went in the opposite direction; Since they averaged 45.5 points per game in a 2-0 start that led to their offense being named the league's darling, their point total during New Orleans' current four-game loss is more than that Half-time streak dropped to 19 points per game.

The matchup: Which offense will be able to get out of the jam? New Orleans has converted on 47% of its third-down opportunities, the third-highest rate in the NFL, while the Broncos are second-worst at 25%. Quarterback Derek Carr remains out with an oblique injury and top receiver Chris Olave suffered a concussion in their recent loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler completed 22 of his 40 passes against Tampa Bay with a touchdown and two interceptions in his professional debut on Sunday. The Broncos, meanwhile, are once again led by rookie Bo Nix, who has thrown as many interceptions (five) as touchdowns in six starts. That could spell trouble against a New Orleans defense with 10 interceptions, second-most in the league.

The broadcast: Amazon Prime Video, 8:15 p.m. ET, Thursday