NEW ORLEANS – Drew Brees was 8-for-10 for 159 yards and two touchdown passes in the first quarter Saturday night, a performance that sparks a little concern about the Patriots plans for the secondary.
With Devin McCourty starting at right corner opposite Malcolm Butler and Duron Harmon playing the single-deep safety spot McCourty usually occupies, neither player looked entirely at ease.
McCourty was beaten for a 24-yard catch-and-run by Cooks on the Saints first drive. He also got off-balance on a jam later in that drive and nearly got beaten for a touchdown by Brandon Coleman, but McCourty’s hand-fighting jarred the ball free. New Orleans settled for a field goal. Later in the quarter, McCourty was in coverage on Cooks on the outside and passed off the streaking Cooks to Harmon. Harmon wasn’t able to accelerate with Cooks and Drew Brees dropped a 45-yard touchdown pass in.
Sandwiched in between those scores was another Saints drive capped by Ben Watson dusting linebacker Jonathan Freeny with a fake to the outside and a simple slant pattern.
The Saints were able to squeeze off three scoring drives in 15 minutes because the New England offense couldn’t get anything going. Tom Brady started and quarterbacked three drives, all of which ended without a first down.
On each of the drives, the Patriots started by handing to LeGarrette Blount. He was dropped on those carries for a loss of 5, a gain of 3 and a loss of 3. Not what you’d call ideal drive starters.
A few other notes from the first:
New England Patriots
Find the latest New England Patriots news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Boston.
*Chris Harper brought back the opening kickoff and started the game along with Brandon Gibson at wideout. Josh Boyce didn’t play any of the first three drives.
*Dion Lewis was the first third-down back into the game.
*Good quarter for the punter! Ryan Allen had kicks of 58, 47 and 48 yards.
*Jamie Collins didn’t have a great quarter, it seemed. He was caught peeking on a play-action screen to Mark Ingram and, as he sniffed it out, got picked as well. The gain went for 29.
*Jabaal Sheard and Dominique Easler were the ends for the second Patriots defensive series after Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich were out there for the first one.
*Jerod Mayo, Donta Hightower and Rob Gronkowski all dressed but didn’t play in the first 15.