The most pertinent numbers, of course, are: Saints 24, Patriots 10.

Here are a few others, while assessing how the Pats found themselves two TDs down to the undefeated Saints with two quarters to play...

Devery Henderson has 3 receptions for 116 yards, including a ridiculously easy, 75-yd TD catch and run. Randy Moss has 1 catch, for 9 yards.

The Saints were leading, 10-7, and had just taken possession at their own 25 following a Patriots punt when, on first down, N.E. cornerback Terrence Wilhite blitzed from the left corner as Saints QB Drew Brees dropped back to pass.

The problem was that free safety Brandon Meriweather didn't drop back and pick up Wilhite's man -- Henderson, who had nothing but open space in front of him when Brees found him wide open.

Brees finished the first half 11 of 13 for 229 yards and 3 TDs, without an interception. Pats QB Tom Brady, on the other hand, was only 12 of 21 for 124 yards. with a costly interception.

That came with the Patriots leading, 7-3, and at the N.O. 46 with 1:14 to play in the first quarter after Wes Welker returned a Saints punt 41 yards.

Instead of padding their lead, the Pats turned the ball over, as Brady, trying to get the ball to Moss, was intercepted on the first play by Mike McKenzie.

Brees quickly turned that turnover into a touchdown, taking the Saints 59 yards in 7 plays -- the final 18 coming on a screen pass to Pierre Thomas, who broke three tackles on his way to the end zone.

Brady was under considerably more pressure than Brees. Although he was sacked only once, for a loss of just 4 yards, he frequently had to get the ball away a split-second sooner than he'd have liked.

Brees threw his third TD pass in as many possessions with 1:50 remaining in the first half, finding WR Robert Meachem behind Wilhite for a 38-yard score.