FOXBOROUGH, Mass. ”“ If anything was proven by the New England Patriots in Thursday night’s 27-24 win over the New Orleans Saints in the pre-season opener, it’s this.
There are young Pats who are hungry to play.
Take wideout Julian Edelman, the second year former quarterback from Kent State for one.
Take third year running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis for another.
Both back ups got to work with the first team and both made their mark.
Edelman made six grabs for 90 yards, and had a hand in New England’s first three scoring drives.
Green-Ellis, who would love to supplant holdover starters Kevin Faulk and Laurence Maroney, ran for 34 yards on 11 carries.
The numbers weren’t exactly impressive, but his yards came at key times. Especially his six yard TD burst that put the Pats up 10-0 in the first quarter.
“Every time we go out there,” said Green-Ellis, “whether it’s practice or whatever, it’s an opportunity to go out and execute our offense.”
Such was the case with Edelman, who is occupying the slot receiver spot, at least while incumbent Wes Welker carefully works his way back from last year’s ACL tear.
It was Edelman’s 40 punt return that set up the Pats’ first score, a Stephen Gostkowski field goal.
Key receptions by Edelman helped fuel the first two New England touchdown drives.
“That’s what every guy should (want) when they get the ball in their hands,” said Edelman. “To make guys miss.”
While Edelman is angling for all the playing time he can get, he’s eager to admit that he owes a lot to Welker’s mentoring skills.
He’s also quick to reject any comparison between him and the three-time Pro Bowler.
“It’s unfair to him,” said Edelman, who manned the Welker’s slot spot in last year’s playoff loss to Baltimore. “He’s the best slot in the game. I learn everything from him. How to be a professional, how to prepare, and how to run routes. It was a blessing to come here and sit behind a guy like that. Wes has been a huge part of helping me develop and still is.”
As expected, both starting quarterbacks, Tom Brady and New Orleans’ Drew Brees, left the game after the first quarter.
Brady directed the Pats on a 93 yard, 14 play scoring drive, capped by Green-Ellis’ touchdown, on their second series.
Brees, who led the Saints to their Super Bowl win in February, was 9-for-13 for 55 yards.
“We would have like to have started off a little crisper than we did,” said Brees, the reigning Super Bowl MVP.
The Pats took a 24-7 lead early in the third quarter, after the second of two TD runs by Maroney.
However, the Saints hauled themselves back, and tied the score 24-24, on Garrett Hartley’s 23 yard field goal with 2:40 remaining.
The set the stage for Gostkowski’s 28 yard game-winner with 53 seconds left.
“I think we had a real productive week,” said Pats head coach Bill Belichick. “Culminating with the game tonight. It was a real competitive game, and went right down to the last two-minute situation. It certainly wasn’t perfect, (and) we had a lot of mistakes out there. But we made some plays.”
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