The Broncos are set for a big game in the Big Easy.

In Denver's Week 7 prime-time matchup, Head Coach Sean Payton is set to face the Saints for the first time — and he'll do so as the Broncos chase a critical fourth win.

Yet while he's acknowledged the emotions of returning to the city where he coached for 15 years and earned a world championship, his focus — as well as the Broncos' — is simply on earning this week's victory.

"We're in the business of collecting wins, and this is the next one we have to get," Payton said Tuesday of his message to his team.

With a win over the Saints (2-4), the Broncos would earn their fourth victory in their last five games and head into a mini-bye with momentum.

"Listen, I can't stand losing," Payton said Monday. "It's about our team and me as the head coach of the Broncos getting ready to play on [a short] week and trying to play one of our better games."

These are the questions that will determine if the Broncos can earn a prime-time win over the Saints and improve to 4-3 on the season:

CAN THE BRONCOS START FAST?

The Broncos used a fourth-quarter rally to surge back into the game against the Chargers in Week 6, but they've discussed the need on both sides of the ball to get off to better starts.

In all three of Denver's home games this season, the Broncos have fallen into double-digit holes — and they were only able to recover against the Raiders.

Defensively, Denver will aim to avoid the slow starts that have popped up over the last two games. Against the Chargers, Denver allowed scores on each of Los Angeles' first four possessions before giving up just three points in the second half.

"We've got to start fast," outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper said. "I feel like we started slow last week, and I think it was just [due] to [cornerback Pat Surtain II's] injury — and the energy kind of went down after that. We have to be able to have guys and have good enough leadership in order to keep the defense going, keep us up, spirits high … making sure we start fast no matter what they throw at us."

The Broncos should benefit from defensively from having time to prepare without Surtain, who was ruled out Wednesday. Denver adjusted in the second half after losing Surtain, but Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph admitted it's difficult to make those changes in an instant. With the benefit of extra time to prepare, Joseph and the Broncos believe they should be able to find more success.

"Having a couple days to kind of adjust your back end and adjust your plan to your new players, it's always an advantage," Joseph said. "[When] it happens on game day to a player like Patrick, it takes some adjusting in the back end to fit certain packages to certain players. But having some time to fix it now, we should be OK."

Offensively, the Broncos will try to post an output closer to what they showed was possible in Tampa, where the Broncos scored 14 first-quarter points. Denver has been held scoreless in the first half of three games this year, and the Broncos know they must be better early in games.

"I think there was some momentum there in that fourth quarter, and hopefully we can keep that momentum going forward in this next game," Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi said. "In these Thursday night games, I think starting fast is important, so hopefully we can keep some of that momentum going."

Especially on the road, it will be critical for the Broncos to not fall behind quickly — and an early lead could help spur Denver to a win.

WILL BO NIX EARN THE EDGE IN THE BATTLE OF ROOKIE QBS?

As the Broncos look to earn a much-needed win, they could need their rookie quarterback to outperform the signal-caller on the other side.

With Derek Carr listed as doubtful, Nix is poised to face off against Spencer Rattler, who was the next quarterback drafted after Nix in the 2024 NFL Draft. Nix, the 12th-overall pick, and Rattler, the 150th-overall selection, will each face their own challenges on Thursday.

Nix will look to build off his performance in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against Los Angeles, as he completed 15-of-19 passes for 189 yards, two touchdowns and a 143.2 passer rating after completing four passes for 27 yards and an interception in the first three quarters.

The Broncos' rookie will face a defense that allowed 44 points in Week 6 to Tampa Bay and ranks 23rd in points per game and 32nd in total defense. The Saints also rank 29th in passing defense, but they've found ways to force mistakes from opposing quarterbacks.

New Orleans' 10 interceptions ranks second in the NFL entering Week 7, while the team is tied for the fifth-fewest passing touchdowns allowed. The Saints have recorded at least one interception in eight consecutive games, and all six starting quarterbacks to face the Saints this year have thrown at least one interception. Despite a strong performance in a 44-point outing, Baker Mayfield threw three interceptions on Sunday. As Nix aims for more consistency, he'll need to avoid those mistakes.

Denver's defense, meanwhile, will need to find a way to get after Rattler. In his first career start, Rattler completed 22-of-40 passes for 243 pass yards, one touchdown, two interceptions and a 60.7 passer rating. He led the Saints to 20 points in a blistering second quarter, but New Orleans did not score outside of the second frame.

Rattler, who was sacked five times in the loss to Tampa Bay, could also be vulnerable to the Broncos' pressure.

According to Next Gen Stats, Rattler was 3-of-11 for 27 yards when pressured, and the Broncos' 41.0 percent pressure rate is the second highest in the NFL.

If the Broncos can get to Rattler and force negative plays, that could help turn the tide in Denver's favor.

CAN THE BRONCOS BRING THE ENERGY ON A SHORT WEEK?

As the Broncos prepare to enter a raucous environment on a short week, both Joseph and Lombardi believe Denver's performance will be determined — in large part — by the Broncos' mindset.

With Payton returning to New Orleans, the Saints desperate for a win after four consecutive losses and Drew Brees being inducted into the Saints' Hall of Fame, it will surely be an emotional night in NOLA. The Broncos' ability to match that energy and set the tone will go a long way toward earning a win.

"These [Thursday night] games are all about energy and execution much more than scheme anyway, so hopefully our guys come out with that mindset," Lombardi said.

Added Joseph: "I think it comes down to players. And on a short week like this, it comes down to your system. It's a system week. You don't have time to dive into heavy game plans.

"… The teams who overcome the 'It's Thursday, I'm tired, I'm sore,' that's who wins these games. But it won't be schematic. It's going to be a mindset to overcome the short week. [We] just lost a football game; they didn't win on Sunday either. Whoever can get back to the mindset of 'Let's play' wins those games."

After the Broncos' loss to the Chargers, Nix indicated he and his teammates were ready to hit the practice field right away. On a short week, they'll have a chance to show that resolve — and hopefully use it to find a win.