Saints have mixed reviews in first preseason game

It was a game of mixed reviews for the New Orleans Saints as they began the preseason with a 34-22 loss to the New England Patriots in Foxboro Thursday night.
Among the many items that New Orleans will need to work on before the season begins in earnest on September 11 against the Oakland Raiders is ball security. The Saints turned the ball over four times; two of which were returned for touchdowns.
“The first thing that stands out in a game like that is the four turnovers,” said New Orleans head coach Sean Payton. “When you come on the road and turn the ball over like that, two for touchdowns, we fumble on the first drive, and penalties, you’re not going to win many games. Did we play with effort and energy and a lot of those things? I would say, yeah, but that’s disappointing.”
The offense looked good to open the game, as Drew Brees hit Brandin Cooks on a deep route down the right side for a 37 yard connection. However, after Mark Ingram busted off of left tackle for eight yards on the next play, he proceeded to fumble the ball, resulting in the first turnover of the evening for the Saints.
Things did not go well on New Orleans’ next possession. Garret Grayson, replacing Brees at quarterback, threw a ball that was intercepted by New England’s Jaime Collins at the 43-yard line. Collins strolled in for the touchdown and after a two point conversion, the Patriots had an 8-0 lead.
The much maligned Saint defense from a year ago, did manage to hold the New England offense scoreless on their first three possessions. With the exception of one explosive 44-yard touchdown run from the Patriots LeGarrette Blount, the Saint defense seemed to show improvements in their overall play. New Orleans relented 362 yards of total offense to New England, but only gave up two touchdowns and two field goals. However, Payton is still looking for more production from the Saint defense, especially in the run game.
“I thought there were some snaps where we were able to get some pressure and then obviously there were some breakdowns,” said Payton. “If you just looked at the turnovers and look at the rushing statistics we averaged two-something, (and) I think they were over five yards a carry. There are some very telling numbers as you look at it.”
New Orleans did get on the board in the first quarter on their second possession after the Grayson interception. M. Murphy brought back a New England punt to the Patriot 15-yard line. Five plays later, Ingram bowled his way over right guard from one-yard out for the touchdown. Grayson converted on the two-point conversion run and the game was tied at 8-8.
New Orleans took the over the lead in the second quarter when Ingram broke the plane from one-yard out for his second touchdown of the game with only 35 seconds ticked off the clock. Tommylee Lewis ran in for the two-point conversion and the Saints led 16-8.
From that point on, New England dominated the scoreboard, scoring the next twenty-six points, including a fumble recovery by the Patriots’ Trey Flowers that resulted in a 17-yard touchdown. New Orleans added their last points of the game in the fourth quarter when Luke McCown hit wide receiver Reggie Bell for a 4-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was no good.