Saints Fall To Patriots, 7-6

The New Orleans Saints fell in NFL preseason action on Thursday night, dropping a 7-6 decision to the New England Patriots in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

There wasn't much offense in the game, with the Saints out gaining the Patriots, in terms of total yards, 280-279.

Neither team played their respective starters for any extended period of time. New England kept starting quarterback Tom Brady in for only two series and 15 plays, while Drew Brees played only six plays on two series.

The Saints scored the only points of the first half, as John Kasay nailed a 46-yard field goal at the 8:30 mark of the first quarter, to make it 3-0.

The score stayed that way until the third quarter, when the Patriots scored on their initial possession of the half, as Brian Hoyer hit Britt Davis with a 3-yard touchdown pass, capping off a 97-yard drive, to give New England a 7-3 lead at the 9:39 mark of the third quarter.

New Orleans closed the gap to 7-6 early in the fourth quarter, as Garrett Hartley hit a 27-yard field goal at the 14:57 mark of the final period.

Kasay had a chance to give the Saints the lead with another field goal late in the game, but his 41-yard field goal attempt went wide to the right with 3:07 left.

Quarterback Luke McCown, who's fighting for a spot on the roster, led the way for the Saints in a losing cause, completing 9 of 16 passes for 86 yards.

The Patriots are now 1-0 in preseason play, while the Saints fell to 1-1.

The Saints return to preseason play on Friday, August 18, when they play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars.