While it's not quite Caleb Williams vs. Jayden Daniels, we get an intriguing rookie quarterback matchup to kick off Week 7 of the NFL season as first-round pick Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos (3-3) visit fifth-round selection Spencer Rattler and the New Orleans Saints (2-4) for this week's edition of Thursday Night Football. It's also a Big Easy homecoming for Broncos coach Sean Payton. Denver is -2.5 with a total of 37, the lowest of any Week 7 game. 

Nix and Rattler aren't really your typical rookie starting QBs in the NFL as both are 24, each beginning college football in 2019 and playing five years apiece. If you are curious, and I was, Nix was ranked as the No. 62 overall recruit in the nation by sister-site 247 Sports for the Class of 2019. Rattler was No. 9 overall and the No. 1 pro-style QB. Nix had the much better college career, though, and that's why he went No. 12 overall this year (the sixth QB chosen) and Rattler lasted until No. 150. 

While Nix has been starting from Week 1, Rattler only made his NFL debut in Sunday's blowout loss to Tampa Bay because Derek Carr is dealing with an oblique injury and won't be ready to return for Thursday. Jake Haener, a 2023 fourth-round pick out of Fresno State, will back up Rattler again -- and Rattler will be missing his top two receivers. 

Payton was the most successful coach in Saints history with a 152-89 regular-season mark from 2006-21 and led the franchise to its only Super Bowl title following the 2009 season. He stepped away after 2021 and took 2022 off. In January 2023, New Orleans acquired Denver's 2023 first-round pick (No. 29 overall) and 2024 second-round pick in a trade for Payton and the Saints' 2024 third-round selection. Payton is seeking to become the seventh head coach in league history to defeat all 32 current franchises.

We'll take you through every aspect of the Broncos-Saints game that you need to know before you lock in your bets, including SportsLine expert picks, props, trends, DFS, injury information and everything else that will help you know which plays are worth making for the primetime matchup.

Who wins Broncos vs. Saints in the Week 7 Thursday night game, and what critical X-factor makes one side of the spread hit HARD? Join SportsLine right now to see everything you need to know about the game in the Thursday night matchup to kick off Week 7 of the 2024 season!!