After two days of scrimmages against each other, the Saints and Patriots get started on the real thing — well, almost — when they meet Thursday night.
The first preseason game for both teams should have slightly more intensity than the joint workouts, but not nearly as much as a regular-season meeting. Certainly not like New Orleans’ 38-17 home win over the Patriots that lifted the Saints to 11-0 on their way to their first Super Bowl title…