6a State High School Baseball Championship, May 18, 2021

NEW ORLEANS – It is approaching happy hour, which is any waking hour on Bourbon Street, the jazz bellowing from street musicians as tourists sip daiquiris from plastic contraptions. Even on a windy midweek afternoon, this area is a kaleidoscope of beads, booze and beignets. Bars advertise that hangovers are installed — and repaired. A faded cover of the Times-Picayune hangs on the wall at Finnegan’s Easy with the headline screaming “AMEN!” in celebration of the New Orleans Saints’ lone Super Bowl victory.

The Broncos have ruled out cornerback Pat Surtain II (concussion) and offensive tackle Alex Palczewski ahead of Thursday night’s matchup against the Saints. Surtain was listed as a non-participant at practice for three straight days after suffering a head injury in the first quarter of last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Denver Post Broncos beat reporters Parker Gabriel and Ryan McFadden talk through Denver’s 23-16 loss Sunday to the Los Angeles Chargers, how much a short week impacts the preparations for Thursday Night Football and the upcoming matchup with New Orleans. They dig into how Sean Payton’s return to his former team — and a city he still has deep connections to — could impact the matchup and what the Broncos plan to do considering the likelihood they will be without All-Pro Pat Surtain II (concussion). Related Articles Denver Broncos | Broncos CB Pat Surtain II ruled out vs.

No team in the NHL is going to win much when five of the top nine or 10 players on the roster are unavailable. For the Colorado Avalanche, that’s just the state of things right now. But the issues for the Avs during an 0-3 start, particularly in an ugly 6-2 loss Monday night to the New York Islanders, go beyond just missing some very good players. It’s a pretty simple message: Focus on the process and clean up the areas that the healthy players can control. “I think we recognize what we have to improve on,” Avs forward Logan O’Connor said.

Broncos (3-3) at Saints (2-4) When: Thursday, 6:15 p.m. MT Where: Caesars Superdome Radio/TV: 850 AM, 94.1 FM/Prime Video Line: Broncos -2.5 Broncos-Saints series: Denver is 9-3 in 12 regular-season games dating back to 1970; the Broncos lost 31-3 in the last meeting, on Nov. 29, 2020, in New Orleans, and have won five of their last six against the Saints. In the spotlight: Broncos “really impressed” with Saints QB Spencer Rattler during draft process. In a scenario where Bo Nix wasn’t taken by the Broncos with the 12th overall pick, Spencer Rattler might have been the team’s next option. RELATED: Sean Payton’s return to New Orleans is a nostalgia bomb and a reminder: There’s work to be done in Broncos Country During the pre-draft process, head coach Sean Payton said the team did a fair amount of homework on Rattler and was “really impressed” with what the former South Carolina quarterback brought to the table. When the Broncos face the Saints on Thursday night, they are expecting Rattler, who is making his second career start for New Orleans, to display the traits that made him a potential target for Denver back in April. “We had him graded higher, and I’m sure the Saints did as well,” Payton said.

Sean Payton has a story for just about everything. He uses them to make a point or teach a lesson. Flash some charm or establish control. Reminisce about good times past or forecast the future. He has one he likes about Drew Brees on the night they played their first game together at the Superdome in New Orleans, late September 2006. RELATED: Broncos prepare for life without Pat Surtain II in matchup vs.