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NEW ORLEANS – History will tell us for sure, but I think we might have just seen a coming-out moment in Sean Payton’s ascendancy as a head coach.



Under the brightest of lights, he just went for it on fourth down against Bill Belichick, who already has gone for it on fourth down twice (and succeeded both times) tonight, and I seem to recall Belichick going for it on fourth down a few other times in recent weeks.



Anyway, Payton’s moved paid off in a big way. On that fourth-and-2 from New England’s 21-yard line, Pierre Thomas produced a 3-yard run.



On the next play, Thomas took a screen pass from Drew Brees and scored. That’s a lot better than settling for a field goal to give New Orleans a 10-7 lead.



I wouldn’t recommend going for it on fourth down all the time, but Payton showed he can do it too.

NEW ORLEANS — There’s a sign in the back of the end zone the New England Patriots are trying to enter in the first quarter.



HEY BILL

GO FOR IT

11-0



Twice on the Patriots’ opening drive, Bill Belichick did. Twice the Patriots converted, including the final 4 yards for a touchdown to give them a 7-3 lead over the New Orleans Saints.



The Patriots went 80 yards on 14 plays. The impressive, methodical drive lasted 7 minutes, 40 seconds.



Belichick evoked memories of Indianapolis, where he went for it on fourth down from his own 28-yard line in the final moments against the Colts. The Patriots failed to gain the first down, and Peyton Manning beat them with a touchdown strike a few plays later.



On Monday night, Belichick opted not kick on fourth-and-1 from the Saints’ 36-yard line. That would have been a 53-yard attempt for Stephen Gostkowski, and as Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com noted, Gostkowski made a 53-yarder in pregame warmups.



Sammy Morris picked up the first down with a 3-yard run up the middle.



Five plays later, the Patriots had a fourth-and-1 situation from the Saints’ 4-yard line. Laurence Maroney took it in for the score.



The Superdome fell silent.

NEW ORLEANS – He was announced as a starter in the pregame, and cornerback Mike McKenzie, who just re-signed with the Saints last week, was in the lineup on the first defensive play.



The Saints opened with three cornerbacks (Randall Gay and Malcolm Jenkins were the other two) and I think we’re going to see lots of McKenzie tonight with Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter out with injuries.



Although McKenzie hasn’t played in coordinator Gregg Williams’ system before tonight, he was a starter for the Saints before injuries prompted the team to let him go after last season. The Saints also recently signed veteran cornerback Chris McAlister.

NEW ORLEANS — It didn’t end quite the way it started, but, still, the Saints were impressive on the opening drive.



They had to settle for a John Carney field goal that hit the upright before going through. Taking three points, instead of seven, is a bit disappointing. But the Saints looked great early in a drive that went 53 yards on eight plays.



Drew Brees opened the game with a 33-yard pass to Devery Henderson and Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell each had a nice run.



Now, let’s see what the New Orleans defense can do.

NEW ORLEANS — Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com noted kicker Stephen Gostkowski comfortably connected from 53 yards in pregame warmups.



With all of the talk about Monday night’s game being a shootout, Gostkowski could make the difference at some point late in the game.



If memory serves, the New England Patriots have kicked a clutch field goal in the Superdome before.

NEW ORLEANS — If you want to immerse yourself in Sunday night’s showdown between the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, drop into ESPNBoston.com’s live in-game chat.



Saints fans are more than welcome to get involved. ESPNBoston.com proprietors Mike Reiss and Chris Forsberg will be there, as will NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas and I.



It’s the next-best place to being in the Superdome. And I offer a money-back guarantee.

NEW ORLEANS — The Saints just announced some lineup changes after declaring cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Jabari Greer and running back Reggie Bush inactive because of injuries.



Rookie Malcolm Jenkins and Randall Gay will be the starting cornerbacks. Recently-signed veterans Chris McAlister and Mike McKenzie are both active and presumably will be the top backups.



Pierre Thomas will take Bush’s place as the starting running back. The Saints have said Devery Henderson will take over Bush’s duties as the punt returner.

NEW ORLEANS — The New England Patriots also have some interesting scratches for Monday night’s game in the Superdome.



Left tackle Matt Light will play tonight after missing five games games with a knee injury, but rookie Sebastian Vollmer, who was playing very well in Light’s absence, is out. He suffered a head injury in last week’s victory over the New York Jets.



Running back Sammy Morris also returns to help out Laurence Maroney and Kevin Faulk in the backfield. He sat out four games with a knee injury.



Linebacker Junior Seau has been deactivated for the first time since signing with the Patriots.



Rookie slot receiver Julian Edelman will dress, but as the third quarterback. That means he cannot step on the field until the fourth quarter without disqualifying quarterbacks Tom Brady and Brian Hoyer for the rest of the game. Edelman played quarterback at Kent State before the Patriots converted him.



The Patriots’ total inactive list as follows:

• Receiver Julian Edelman (third QB)
• Running back Fred Taylor
• Guard Rich Ohrnberger
• Tackle Sebastian Vollmer
• Defensive tackle Ron Brace
• Linebacker Junior Seau
• Cornerback Shawn Springs
• Cornerback Kyle Arrington

NEW ORLEANS — Some big names appear on the New Orleans Saints‘ inactive list for Monday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints in the Superdome.



Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports running back Reggie Bush, receiver Lance Moore and both starting cornerbacks, Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter, are out.



Bush had been listed as questionable with a knee injury. There was a belief that Greer, who plays the critical left side, would be able to play through a groin injury. Old friend Randall Gay will replace Greer.



Also scratched:

• Fullback Kyle Eckel
• Defensive tackle DeMario Pressley
• Linebacker Jonathan Casillas
• Kicker Garrett Hartley

I will have the Patriots’ inactive list as soon as it’s official.