NEW ORLEANS (AP) -If Tom Brady and the Patriots were suffering from a Super Bowl hangover, it looks as though a trip to New Orleans pulled the defending champions out of it.
The 40-year-old Brady hasn't often looked better in his long, illustrious career, providing an audible contingent of traveling Patriots fans who chanted their star QB's name ample reason to spend the rest of their Sunday celebrating on Bourdon Street.
Bouncing back with a vengeance from a season-opening loss, Brady threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter for the first time in his career, eclipsed 300 yards passing in the first half for only the second time, and New England scored 30 first-half points en route to a 36-20 victory over the winless Saints.
Brady's maiden Super Bowl triumph in the Superdome back in February 2002 is bound to be one of his fondest memories, but the 18-year veteran looked like a superior QB in his latest visit. He finished 30 of 39 for 447 yards without an interception — at least not one that counted. Saints defenders caught Brady's passes twice, but both plays were wiped out by New Orleans penalties. Brady joined Warren Moon as the only QBs age 40 or older in NFL history to pass for at least 400 yards and 3 TDs in a game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Rob Gronkowski had a 53-yard catch and run to highlight his six-catch, 116-yard performance, but left the game in the second half with a groin injury.
In Brady and the Saints' Drew Brees, the game featured the NFL's top wo active quarterbacks in terms of career yards and touchdowns. Their 922 TD passes and 128,251 yards passing combined coming in represented the most by starting QBs in the same NFL game.
But in this matchup, Brees couldn't keep up.
He was 27 of 45 for 356 yards and two TDs. The Saints' desperation to stay close was encapsulated by a failed attempt to convert a fourth down — despite being well within field goal range on the Patriots 25-yard line — with 2:27 left in the first half and New England up by 13.
Brady responded by marching New England to the Saints 10 to set up Stephen Gostkowski's field goal, making it 30-13 at halftime.
The Patriots' first three drives ended with a 19-yard TD pass to Rex Burkhead, Gronkowski's long TD and a 13-yard scoring pass to Chris Hogan.
New Orleans briefly rallied with Brees' 5-yard TD pass to Brandon Coleman and Wil Lutz's field goal on consecutive drives, pulling as close as 20-13. But New England responded with Mike Gillislee's short scoring run on a drive highlighted by downfield passes to Gronkowski, Hogan and former Saint Brandin Cooks.
The New England Patriots take on the New Orleans Saints in a regular season game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday, September 17, 2017.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, facing, embraces New England Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks, a former Saint, up before an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
before an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots linebacker Harvey Langi warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead (34) pulls in a touchdown recetion in front of New Orleans Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone (47) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead (34) pulls in a touchdown recetion in front of New Orleans Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone (47) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back Rex Burkhead (34) celebrates his touchdown reception with fullback James Develin (46) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) carries against New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) carries against New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes under pressure from New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (98) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) carries against New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski carries for a touchdown past New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore (23) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates his touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski pulls in a touchdown reception in front of New Orleans Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone (47) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski carries for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski celebrates his touchdown with running back James White (28) and wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (13) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski pulls in a touchdown reception in front of New Orleans Saints linebacker Alex Anzalone (47) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) carries against New Orleans Saints cornerback Sterling Moore (24) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) passes under pressure from New Orleans Saints defensive end Alex Okafor (57) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) celebrates his touchdown with strong safety Patrick Chung (23) and quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick reacts to a flag in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones (31) breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Ted Ginn in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) hands off in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is sacked by New England Patriots defensive end Deatrich Wise as defensive tackle Adam Butler (70) closes in, in the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) calls out to an official on the field in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saintsin New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots defensive end Cassius Marsh (55) talks on the sideline in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talks to free safety Duron Harmon (30) in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) lines up on the line of scrimmage against New Orleans Saints strong safety Vonn Bell (48) in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots line up at the line of scrimmage in the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks off the field after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. The Patriots won 36-20. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady greets New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) after an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. The Patriots won 36-20. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots players form a prayer circle after an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017. The Patriots won 36-20. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
INJURIES
Patriots:In addition to Gronkowski's groin injury, Burkhead had a rib injury in the second half. DB Eric Rowe was treated for a groin injury.
Saints: Rookie CB Marshon Lattimore left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. DE Trey Hendrickson left the game late in the first quarter with what the club described as a leg injury. Defensive end Mitch Loewen needed help off the field after injuring his left leg in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
New England returns home to face the Houston Texans.
The Saints open NFC South divisional play at Carolina.
