Saints reserves rally past Patriots 37-27

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Tom Brady shook off the rust of his post-Super Bowl layoff and led the two-time defending NFL champions to a couple of scores.

After throwing an interception on his first play of the preseason, Brady led the Patriots on two consecutive scoring drives. Doug Flutie converted two more TDs on Thursday night before both quarterbacks left the game and the New Orleans Saints rallied for a 37-27 exhibition victory.

The Patriots led 27-16 with 5:43 left in the third quarter before Aaron Brooks hit Devery Henderson on a 34-yard touchdown pass, then missed on the 2-point conversion to leave it 27-22.

Saints backup Todd Bouman hit Michael Lewis for 15 yards on a fourth-and-2 just before the two-minute warning. After an incompletion, Bouman threw to Nate Poole, who lunged for the end zone to break the plane as a defender grabbed his foot.

With the Patriots at their own 14, L.P. Ladouceur hit Matt Cassel and forced a fumble that was scooped up by Jimmy Verdon and brought into the end zone.

Brady was 6-for-11 for 105 yards and one interception before giving way to Flutie with 6:32 left in the first half.