Patriots win exhibition opener, 7-6 over Saints - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports

Patriots win exhibition opener, 7-6 over Saints

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HOWARD ULMAN
AP Sports Writer

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) - Will Smith crunched Tom Brady from behind, forcing a fumble in the first quarter. It may be the Saints' defensive end's biggest play for a while.

One of four players punished in the New Orleans bounty scandal, Smith was suspended for the first four regular-season games. So Thursday night's sack of New England's star quarterback was a highlight in the Patriots' lackluster 7-6 win in their exhibition opener.

John Kasay had a chance to give the Saints (No. 9 in the APPro32) the lead, but his 41-yard field goal attempt went wide to the right with 3:07 left.

The game followed two days of joint practices between the teams and was the first for the Patriots (No.2) since their 21-17 loss in the Super Bowl to the New York Giants

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