Juwan Johnson played for Sean Payton when he was head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Payton, now coach of the Denver Broncos, is considered arguably the greatest head coach in Saints history. The Saints will honor him before the Broncos (3-3) face the Saints (2-4) on Thursday.

Johnson is not interested in history and is in no mood for nostalgic views. The tight end and former Oregon Ducks star is focused on the game.

The Saints have lost four straight after winning their first two games of the season. The last two losses were particularly painful, including a 51-27 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6. So excuse Johnson when he says the team can’t focus on its former coach.

“I think Sean is obviously a Hall of Fame coach, he’s a great coach. But then again, he’s an opposing coach,” Johnson told reporters on Wednesday. “He’s in our way, whether it’s the coach of Tampa Bay or the coach of Denver or whoever the coach is. “I think we just have to win. I think we’re desperate for a win. Losing five games in a row is something I don’t want to say anymore or at all. We have to win. I think the city needs this, we need it even more. So, yeah, we’re desperate.”

The feeling of despair comes after the Saints’ terrible performance against the Buccaneers. The Buccaneers’ offense ran for 594 yards (including 277 rushing) and scored 44 points (one touchdown was scored on a fumble return) while averaging 8.3 yards per play.

Players often complain about having to play on Thursday with a short break, but the Saints are happy to be back on the field so they can forget Sunday’s debacle.

“That’s the good thing about a short week, you don’t have a lot of time to sit here and feel sorry for yourself,” Saints coach Dennis Allen told reporters Wednesday. “You have to prepare for a different opponent.”