New Orleans receiver David Patten (81) raises the ball after scoring a touchdown as Arizona's Aaron Francisco is unable to stop the score in the first quarter. The Saints defeated the Cardinals, 24-10, in a preseason game Thursday in Glendale, Ariz.

Saints 24, Cardinals 10

Glendale, Ariz. – Drew Brees and Matt Leinart started the preseason with near-perfection.

Brees was 6-for-7 for 40 yards and a touchdown in his lone series for New Orleans. Saints backup Mark Brunell was equally effective, completing 10 of 12 for 119 yards.

Leinart, the third-year Arizona quarterback who missed the final 11 games last season due to a broken collarbone, completed eight of nine passes for 91 yards in the first two series of the game.

Leinart said his offseason work paid off.

“The biggest thing is when you know your reads and know where you are going with the ball, the footwork comes naturally and is easier,” Leinart said. “I did work on it this summer, and I just have to keep getting better.”

Second-year Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt liked what he saw from his young quarterback.

“He was accurate, in control,” Whisenhunt said. “He looked smooth in the pocket, and his footwork was good. I was impressed with his overall play.”

Nine Saints regulars didn’t make the trip because of various minor injuries. Among them were starting tight end Jeremy Shockey and starting wide receivers Marques Colston and Devery Henderson. Running back Deuce McAllister also stayed home.

Ravens 16, Patriots 15

Foxborough, Mass. – With Tom Brady having the night off, the Patriots were far from perfect in their first game after a nearly perfect season. For John Harbaugh, the Ravens’ exhibition victory Thursday was a good start to his head-coaching career.

Harbaugh got a look at the quarterbacks competing to succeed the retired Steve McNair. Kyle Boller started for Baltimore, Troy Smith replaced him, and both played decently. First-round draft pick Joe Flacco looked like a rookie, losing a fumble on his second play.

For New England, LaMont Jordan, fighting for a job behind Laurence Maroney, ran with power, picking up 76 yards and scoring on a one-yard run just 13 days after being released by Oakland following his seventh NFL season.

Lions 13, Giants 10

Detroit – Eli Manning and the Super Bowl champion New York Giants finally stumbled on the road.

Only this time, it didn’t really matter.

Manning, the Super Bowl MVP, struggled on his only two series in the preseason opener. New York won its final 11 games away from Giants Stadium last season.

Manning completed two of his six passes for 19 yards. He was 0-for-3 on New York’s first possession, including two passes that were knocked down by Lions linemen.

Eddie Johnson’s 31-yard field goal with 2:47 to play gave Detroit the victory.

Jets 24, Browns 20

Cleveland – Brett Favre’s big-play ability rubbed off on the New York Jets, who scored three long touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns, as their new star quarterback watched from the sideline.

Dwight Lowery returned a punt 62 yards to score with 10:02 left to cap New York’s comeback from a 10-point deficit. Lowrey and Hank Poteat both intercepted passes by Ken Dorsey in the final four minutes to preserve the lead.

The Browns got yet another chance in the final seconds after a roughing-the-passer penalty and pass interference call put the ball on the five. Dorsey’s ninth straight incompletion on the possession fell short as time expired.

New York’s other two big plays came from David Clowney, picked up on waivers by the Jets from the Packers last October. Clowney caught touchdown passes of 71 and 70 yards from Brett Ratliff.