Through the Years: Broncos vs. Saints

The Broncos easily defeated the Saints at Mile High Stadium, capped by a 43-yard touchdown reception by Billy Van Heusen, pictured here.

The Broncos jumped out to an early 21-0 lead and didn't look back in another win over the Saints at Mile High Stadium. Here, Gene Lang (33) celebrates with RB Sammy Winder. Lang had a touchdown on a 10-yard reception, and Winder totaled 127 yards from scrimmage.

RB Sammy Winder breaks upfield on a rush. He totaled 92 rushing yards, including a 42-yard scamper.

John Elway and head coach Dan Reeves talk on the sideline during a blowout loss in the Superdome. The Saints moved to 9-3 with the win while the Broncos dropped to 6-6. Though the win put New Orleans in great shape for the postseason, the Saints dropped their next three games and finished the season 10-6, dropping into a three-way tie with the L.A. Rams and San Francisco 49ers, who each held tie-breakers over New Orleans. San Francisco went on to win the Super Bowl.

The Broncos continued to search for the franchise quarterback after John Elway's retirement in 2000. With Gus Frerotte under center, the Broncos returned to the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl XXXIII. This win against the Saints in the Superdome extended a winning streak to five games as the Broncos finished their season on a 7-1 run.

Defensive end Trevor Pryce had two sacks on Saints QB Aaron Brooks and Ian Gold had one.

RB Mike Anderson set a Broncos rookie rushing record with 251 yards and four touchdowns.

Mike Anderson finished the season with 1,487 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, which was a franchise record for a rookie at the time. His team rushing record was broken two years later by Clinton Portis with 1,508 rushing yards.

With 20 points in the first quarter, the Broncos jumped out to an early lead the Saints could not overcome. Ruben Droughns got things going with a 51-yard rushing touchdown just two minutes into the game. He finished with 166 rushing yards and 25 receiving yards.

Denver's defense punished Saints QB Aaron Brooks into a painful day, sacking him twice and forcing three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by Al Wilson.

QB Jake Plummer avoided making mistakes and threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns without taking a sack or throwing a pick.

The Broncos moved to 3-0 to start the season, led in part by WR Brandon Marshall's 155 receiving yards and one touchdown.

TE Nate Jackson got the Broncos on the board first with a toe-tapping 1-yard touchdown reception. Denver would go up 21-3 at the start of the second quarter.

RB Selvin Young rushed for 65 yards on 11 carries and caught one pass for 7 yards.

In his first season at quarterback for the Broncos, Peyton Manning helped get the team back over .500 after dropping three games in Denver's first five games. After a stunning 35-24 win over San Diego, the Broncos moved to 3-3. With a home game against the Saints, the Broncos logged their best offensive output of the season and got their second win of an 11-game winning streak that would last the rest of the regular season.

Denver's defense bothered Brees into a subpar day with an interception and a forced fumble by Wesley Woodyard.

Under pressure from the Broncos' defense, Drew Brees completed just 22 of 42 passing attempts for 213 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

WRs Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker combined for 180 receiving yards and three touchdowns.