It was quite the night for Barton and the Denver Broncos over the New Orleans Saints.
It was a big night for the Denver Broncos, led by… Cody Barton?!
Why yes, the former Seattle Seahawks linebacker caught a lot of flak (probably too much, to be honest) for his performances when he was in Seattle’s starting lineup, but on Thursday Night Football he was the star of the show against what’s left of the New Orleans Saints.
The opening quarter started with Barton dropping a gift interception on a deep throw by New Orleans quarterback Spencer Rattler. Barton would make up for that dropped gimme by blitzing Rattler into a sack and a forced fumble, with the Broncos recovering.
.@Broncos force a fumble and recover the ball! #DENvsNO on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/q0O4BbRf2p— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2024
Barton thought he had a fumble return touchdown after Rattler dropped the snap, picked it up, and tried to throw it. He was on the spot with the scoop and score, only for the play to be nullified by a D.J. Jones offside penalty.
Bad night for Spencer Rattler. Fumble was called back due to offsides by the Broncos. #DENvsNO pic.twitter.com/c4ou25FtTM
— Rate the Refs App (@Rate_the_Refs) October 18, 2024
No problem! Barton would get his first NFL touchdown in the fourth quarter. This has since been changed to a Rattler fumble and not an interception, but it’s nevertheless six points and the final touchdown of Denver’s evening in a 33-10 romp over the Saints, whose 2-0 start is a distant memory.
Tipped and picked for 6! Barton nabs the INT and takes it to the for the @Broncos#DENvsNO on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/TsAlV2lxuH— NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2024
Even though it wasn’t his first pick-6, it’s still his first NFL fumble return touchdown.
Cody Barton tonight:
First career forced fumble.
First career pick-six.— Romi Bean (@Romi_Bean) October 18, 2024
Barton finished with eight total tackles and a pass defensed in addition to his strip-sack and scoop-and-score. His role has increased since starter Alex Singleton tore his ACL in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and thus far it’s going well for him.
Drafted in the third round back in 2019 by the Seahawks, Barton was generally a special teams player (and a good one, at that!) with occasional starts and reserve snaps at linebacker in his first few seasons. In his final season, he was elevated to full-time starter alongside Jordyn Brooks before leaving in free agency for the Washington Commanders. It didn’t go particularly well for Barton in DC, but it’s a different story in the Mile High City.
While it’s been easy to mock the Broncos post-Russell Wilson trade, Denver has arguably a better chance to reach the playoffs than the Seahawks, even with Bo Nix doing things like this. Denver’s defense ranks 7th in DVOA, 4th in points allowed, and 4th in EPA/play, and the Broncos’ remaining schedule is reasonably favorable enough to at least push for the postseason.
Vance Joseph has his Broncos defense humming, and tonight it was Cody Barton’s night to shine.