The New Orleans Saints have a tough opening salvo of games in their 2024 season, but there's one game that stands slightly above the rest in terms of interest level.
That will be in Week 7 when Sean Payton's Broncos visit New Orleans, the first return trip since the coach departed after the 2021 season. It's a game that the Cajun Cannon Bobby Hebert feels confident in calling already.
"Hell yea, we're winning that game," Hebert said. "I can tell you right now. I know Sean Payton wants to win really bad."
Listen to Bobby Hebert break down all 17 of the Saints 2024 games in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The prediction is less about Payton than it is the scenario the Broncos find themselves in. The road back to prominence is going to be longer than the Chargers, Hebert said, who brought in Jim Harbaugh.
"I would put Sean Payton [and the Broncos] maybe over the Raiders, but I wouldn’t put him over the Chiefs and the Chargers," Hebert continued. "Now, the Chargers only won five games, but I don’t know, you think Sean Payton is going to turn it around that much?”
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A major question for that matchup will be at starting QB, with Denver weighing its options between Jarrett Stidham, Zach Wilson and rookie Bo Nix.
The result will also likely be necessary, coming at the tail end of a difficult opening stretch that includes games against the Eagles, Cowboys and Chiefs. It will also be the third game in a span of 10 days.
Because of that, another must-win will come in Week 1, Hebert said, because sweeping the Panthers will likely be a necessity for this team to get to double-digit wins. The Panthers changed head coaches, but otherwise will be expected to be in the cellar of the NFC South after a 2-15 campaign a year ago.
"Everybody needs to go home if we’re not 1-0," Hebert said. "I mean, everybody needs to get fired. … You might say, well Hebert, we’ve got 17 games. Uh, no. Where Carolina’s at, shame on us, considering that the games we’re gonna have in September, we better be freaking 1-0."