Down in the Bayou

Brees, Saints pound Patriots

December 01, 2009|Adam Kilgore, Globe Staff

(Page 3 of 3)

For their third touchdown of the first half, the Saints breezed down the field with alarming efficiency. Three quick gains for a first down. A 25-yard catch by David Thomas, the former Patriots tight end. And then Brees flicked a 38-yard pass to the middle of the end zone to Robert Meachem, one step ahead of Wilhite.

The drive made one wonder which team was playing without its starting cornerbacks and a veteran fresh off the street. That would be the Saints, starting Randall Gay and Malcolm Jenkins at the corners and using Mike McKenzie, 33 years old and nine days removed from unemployment, in their nickel.

McKenzie played like a man imbued with a second chance. He cut under Randy Moss on the first play of the Patriots’ second drive and, as Brady threw on the run, intercepted the ball. Somehow, the rest of their motley secondary kept the other Patriots receivers contained until the New England offense, down by three touchdowns, gave up.

“We still have to win games,’’ Bodden said. “If we’re a Super Bowl-caliber team, then we’ll be where we need to be and hopefully we’ll face them again. We’re a good team. We just didn’t show it tonight.’’

Will they show it this season? The Patriots will know only after a process that, for this morning, brings with it little reason for optimism. “Wait and see,’’ Meriweather said. And then he walked out of the visitor’s locker room.

Adam Kilgore can be reached at akilgore@globe.com.