Odds: Patriots -3.5, O/U: 46.5

Kickoff: The Patriots will look to make it three in a row today when they visit New Orleans to take on a Saints team that won their first game last week.

The Saints are young and have a good blend of veterans and rookies but they are clearly rebuilding. Despite that, this is the ultimate trap game for the Patriots coming off of the win in Buffalo last Sunday night.

Here are four keys to the game.

1st Down: Come to play: You can’t have a Buffalo hangover after beating the Bills last week. The win is in the past. I am sure Mike Vrabel stressed moving on and focusing on the Saints all week. The players have to prove it by coming out and playing well. Good teams know how to win and move on to the next one.

2nd Down: Come out slinging: The Saints pass rush is not very good. Only way they get pressure is to blitz. The Patriots need to be aggressive today and throw the football. Attack their secondary by using empty and getting the tight ends and backs involved in the passing game. The receivers should have a big day.

3rd Down: Confuse Rattler: The Patriots need to move around in the secondary, disguise coverages and confuse Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler. He has only thrown one interception this season so he takes care of the ball. The Patriots have to bait him into bad throws post snap.

4th Down: Punt returns will be key: Both teams have elite punt return units. They also give up a lot of yards per punt. Marcus Jones will be key in this game but so will the punt team for the Patriots. They cannot give the Saints quality field position or it could be a long day for the defense.

Extra Points: The Patriots lead the all-time series, 10-6. The Patriots are 5-1 against the Saints in New Orleans, including 4-1 at the Superdome against the Saints. The only loss was a 38-17 Monday Night Football game in 2009.

The Patriots have played in three Super Bowls in New Orleans at the Louisiana Superdome, the home of the Saints. The 1985 Patriots qualified for the first Super Bowl in team history, but lost to the Chicago Bears, 46-10. In 1996, the Patriots reached their second Super Bowl in the Crescent City and fell to the Green Bay Packers, 35-21, in Super Bowl XXXI. New England returned to the Big Easy for Super Bowl XXXVI and defeated the St. Louis Rams, 20-17, to claim the first NFL title in team history. (Courtesy of patriots.com)

Final Drive: The Patriots need to get off to a good start and take care of the football. This is a winnable game but if the Patriots get off to a slow start and don’t play clean, they will lose. New Orleans is still a talented team and they will be well coached. This is your classic trap game if the Patriots come and play down to the Saints level.