After a two game skid, we were especially down on the Denver Broncos last week in this predictions post with just one of us predicting a win over the Miami Dolphins (toot toot on my horn with that one!). Now this week we may be more optimistic than we should be as they host the 8-2 New Orleans Saints.
As a group, we are predicting more wins than losses here, but the wins are all super close and the losses not as much. That means the Saints actually win from our collective score results in a close 24-23 affair over the Broncos on Sunday.
Below we break down how we each predicted the Broncos-Saints outcome on an individual basis.
Saints 26, Broncos 16
“They never learn.” The Broncos go back into a full turtle mode on offense and the defense is unable to contain Taysom Hill. The Saints have one of the best records in football not because of Drew Brees, but because they have a really good football team and Hill is producing at quarterback. Teams can surviving losing a starting quarterback if the guy that comes in can move the sticks. Hopefully I’m wrong, but I have yet to see this young team string together multiple games of consistency and until they do you can put me in the doubter column. - Tim Lynch
Broncos 26, Saints 24
I may be crazy, and I know it will mean a near-perfect game on offense and defense, but I’m gunning for the win as the Broncos build a little momentum from last week’s victory. Also, expecting Fangio to dial up a little magic on defense to take advantage of Sean Payton still having to work with his backup QB and not be able to use a full playbook (at least I’m counting on that). If that works as I hope, and Drew Lock protects the ball while the O-line protects him, the offense should have a shot at competing for the win. - Laurie-Lattimore Volkmann
Saints 27, Broncos 24
New Orleans is one of the best teams in the league, even without Drew Brees. And it’s because of the Saints defense. I don’t know why, but I have a gut feeling this game is closer than the current odds. And that bucks a trend of the Broncos at home as huge underdogs. As Andrew Mason pointed out, Denver has lost 5 consecutive games when it is a home underdog of 6+ plus by an average margin of 17.4 points, including two games this year (28-10 to TB, 43-16 to KC). Of course that feeling in my gut could also be the unseemly amounts of food I’ve eaten the last few days. - Ian St. Clair
Broncos 21, Saints 20
I picked the Saints on the MHR Radio Podcast, but after thinking about it, I just don’t see the Saints pulling off a win with Taysom Hill as their QB two weeks in a row. Vic Fangio has film of Hill and the Saints offense. The Broncos defense should be up for the challenge, and Drew Lock seems to be in synch with Pat Shurmur and the play calling. Feed Phillip Lindsay, grab a few turnovers, and a win isn’t that far out of the realm of possibilities. - Adam Malnati
Broncos 28, Saints 25
In the podcast above, Jess predicted the Broncos would win a tight game over the Saints on Sunday. - Jess Place