The New Orleans Saints (0-2) 2017 season is off to a similar start two games in after the New England Patriots (1-1) fired out the gates strong with 20 points in the first quarter to win 36-20.
Tom Brady was without two of his primary wide receivers before kickoff and made it look easy on the opening drive with a 19-yard pass to Ron Burkhead. The Saints did get it within three points though with a 46-yarder from Wil Lutz.
Brady continued to do his thing in the first quarter with a 53-yard pass to Rob Gronkowski, making it 13-3. Before the first quarter even wrapped up, the Patriots put the game virtually out of reach with Chris Hogan catching one from Brady.
The Saints finally found the endzone early in the second quarter with Drew Brees getting Brandon Coleman in the endzone to cut the lead in half once again. Lutz did make it a one-possession game later in the second quarter with another field goal, but Brady and crew fired back with a short run into the endzone from Mike Gillislee followed by a short field goal from Stephen Gostkowski to make it 30-13 as both teams headed into the locker room.
The Saints defense made some adjustments in the second half and kept the Patriots offense out of the endzone, but the Saints were unable to get it closer than 16 points after Coby Fleener caught a touchdown in the endzone from Brees.
The Saints will try and bounce back on the road when they take on the Carolina Panthers (2-0) with kickoff set for 12 pm.
-Clint Domingue