In a sentimental return to the city where he coached for 16 years, Broncos head coach Sean Payton found himself navigating a night filled with nostalgia and reflection. The Saints, who honored legendary quarterback Drew Brees at halftime, celebrated his legacy as Payton, now at the helm of the Broncos, prepared for a different kind of emotional moment.

"I made sure I got here early," Payton shared. "Like, really early—six hours before kickoff early—just to take it all in. Grabbing coffee and soaking up the moment, it was special."

Now in his second season with Denver, Payton faced the Saints as an opposing coach for the first time, stepping into the visitor's locker room at the Superdome, a place he once called home. His current team rose to the occasion, putting together a dominant defensive effort and securing a decisive 33-10 win over an injury-depleted Saints squad. The victory improved the Broncos to 4-3, marking their best start since 2016 when they opened at 5-2.

"It was good to get this win, especially for Coach Payton," said Broncos offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey. "For him, the staff, and the guys who’ve played here, it meant a lot. Proud of how we handled it."

Payton, who coached the Saints from 2006 to 2021, shared the sidelines with Brees throughout his entire tenure. Brees, now the newest inductee into the Saints Hall of Fame, was celebrated at halftime. Before the game, he ran out of the tunnel to roaring applause from the crowd, moments after the Saints defense was introduced.

Once the pageantry gave way to the action, the Broncos overpowered the injury-plagued Saints on both sides of the ball. Denver’s defense was relentless, tallying six sacks, a defensive touchdown, and holding the Saints to 271 total yards. Of those, 92 came in the fourth quarter when many of the Broncos’ backups had entered the game.

Offensively, the Broncos dominated on the ground, amassing 225 rushing yards. Running back Javonte Williams led the charge with 88 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Bo Nix added 75 rushing yards of his own. Denver scored on six straight possessions during the game, a testament to the focused approach Payton had emphasized during the short practice week.

"It’s easy to make excuses on a short week," Payton said. "But I’m pleased with how we played overall."

Before the game, Payton spent more time than usual catching up with his family and old friends from New Orleans. He also joined several of his former Saints staff members for a brief appearance at an event honoring Brees earlier in the day.

Several of Payton's assistants and former Saints players now call Denver home, adding even more layers to the emotional night. One such player, running back Tyler Badie, shared a heartwarming moment with Payton before the game. He showed Payton a photo from his childhood, taken when a 12-year-old Badie, wearing a Saints jersey, met Payton during training camp.

"That’s when you start to feel old," Payton joked.

After the game, Payton was given the game ball in the Broncos' locker room, a fitting capstone to a memorable night.

"It meant a lot," Payton said. "There were so many moments here—seeing old players and being part of this team and ownership group. It reminds you why you miss it when you step away for a while. It’s about relationships and making memories."