Allen needs a win more than anyone. A victory over the guy he coached under for 12 seasons would be a signature win for Allen, especially considering the Saints likely will enter Thursday’s game with just four offensive players (Alvin Kamara, Trevor Penning, Taliese Fuaga and Foster Moreau) who started the season opener.

Broncos second-year coach Sean Payton is about to experience the Superdome in a new way. It'll start with his walk from the team bus to the visitor’s locker room on Thursday night when Denver matches up against New Orleans.

I know it means a lot to him,” Broncos QB Bo Nix said of Sean Payton facing the Saints, “[but] we want to just treat it like another game.”