Sean Payton returns to his old stomping ground in New Orleans on Thursday evening after 15 years as head coach of the Saints.

After coaching Drew Brees for a decade and a half, the longtime offensive guru is now trying to mold rookie quarterback Bo Nix in Denver.

New Orleans will also likely use a rookie quarterback – Spencer Rattler, who is expected to replace the injured Derek Carr.

Wide receivers Rashid Shaheed (concussion) and Chris Olave (knee) join Carr's lengthy injury report for the Saints, and their absences play a major role in the same game this week.

After scoring three goals in a row for The Post, I'm well on my way with my primetime SGPs. Let's see if we can extend this series on Thursday evening.

Broncos vs Saints odds

Broncos vs. Saints, same game (+415, DraftKings)

• Leg 1: Broncos Moneyline (-142)
• Stage 2: Spencer Rattler over 0.5 interceptions (-145)
• Stage 3: Spencer Rattler over 20.5 rushing yards (-115)

Leg 1: Broncos Moneyline (-142)

At 3-3, the Broncos are already halfway to exceeding their 5.5-game win projection.

While Payton's official title at Denver is head coach, he has final say on all player personnel decisions.

As a result, his fingerprints are all over the pick to edge out Russell Wilson and select Nix with the 12th overall pick.

Nix won the starting position and hasn't quite hit the ground yet. It certainly doesn't hurt that he has a quality defense that ranks seventh in FTN Fantasy's Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) metric.

The Saints' rookie quarterback could be in serious jeopardy if his two leading receivers can't go. Neither Shaheed nor Olave have trained this week.

Due to the quick turnaround in a short week, both players are likely to miss the game.

Look for the Broncos to do enough to get over the finish line and walk away with a win.

Stage 2: Spencer Rattler over 0.5 interceptions (-145)

Despite a small NFL sample size with Rattler, taking out a rookie quarterback in his second start is practically a given.

Rattler threw two interceptions in his first game and the Broncos' defense ranks in the top half (10th) of the league in takeaways.

Combine that with his throws to backup receivers and you have the potential for a game full of chaos.

Additionally, if you want the Broncos to win, there is a greater chance that the Saints will have to chase the game and operate from behind.

Stage 3: Spencer Rattler over 20.5 rushing yards (-115)

Rattler could be running for his life against a Broncos defense with the NFL's highest blitz rate (41.8%). Denver also ranks second in sacks (26) and third in quarterback pressures (65).

However, Rattler does have some escape ability and can use his legs to climb out of the pocket.

Betting on the NFL?

According to Pro Football Focus, the Broncos' secondary ranks second in pass coverage, and if Rattler struggles to find open targets, he'll likely tuck the ball away and run.

Against the Buccaneers, he ran for 27 yards on four carries, and that prop feels tight at 20.5.

Best Bet: Same Game (+415, Draftkings)

• Leg 1: Broncos Moneyline (-142)
• Stage 2: Spencer Rattler over 0.5 interceptions (-145)
• Stage 3: Spencer Rattler over 20.5 rushing yards (-115)

Why you should trust New York Post Betting

For the New York Post, Michael Arinze hinders most major sports. He has won two 15-leg teasers and a 12-leg parlay in his betting career, which spanned eight games of the Little League World Series. Most recently, he precisely selected the finalists for the 2024 European Championship and the Copa América.