NEW ORLEANS - Drew Brees was perfect.

At least in terms of his passer rating, a sky-high-as-can-be 158.3. He achieved that number by putting up these numbers Monday night against New England: 18 completions in 23 attempts for 371 yards and 5 touchdowns.

That’s right –– five TDs. Against a Bill Belichick defense.

It was like seeing Bobby Fischer checkmated in five moves.

Here’s another mind-boggling number for you: The Saints had 480 yards total offense on just 50 plays, an average of 9.6 yards per play.

Which, as Brees said, “was pretty ridiculous.”

That it was. As well as, from a Patriots’ standpoint, embarrassing, bordering on the humiliating.

Speaking of humiliation, consider the plight of Pats QB Tom Brady who, with 5:26 remaining and his team trailing by three touchdowns, was pulled from the game by Belichick after having thrown his second interception.

Talk about waving a white flag.

Unlike Brees, Brady was nowhere near perfect.

He was mediocre, at best.

Brady, who was the MVP of Super Bowl XXXVI, when the Patriots upset the Rams in this same Superdome, threw two interceptions and not a single touchdown pass Monday night, even though he was throwing against a Saints secondary missing both its starting cornerbacks.

The first “pick” that Brady threw was a game-changer.

On the Pats’ first possession, he had taken them 80 yards in 14 plays to a touchdown and a 7-3 lead, after which –– for one of the few times all night –– the New England defense forced the Saints to punt.

Wes Welker returned the punt 46 yards to the New Orleans 46, putting the Pats in position to pad their lead.

Instead, Brady, scrambling away from pressure, tried to get the ball to Randy Moss, only to have it intercepted by Mike McKenzie.

Now, here’s the thing about McKenzie. Although he’s an 11-year veteran who spent the past five seasons with the Saints, he was released after breaking his kneecap last season and was only re-signed a week ago because starting corners Jabari Greer (groin) and Tracy Porter (knee) were out of action.

Following that interception, the Saints drove 59 yards in 10 plays to a touchdown, which came on an 18-yard screen pass from Brees to Pierre Thomas, who broke three tackles on his way to the end zone.

Instead of leading, 14-3, or at least 10-3, the Pats found themselves behind, 10-7. That would be as close as they’d get the rest of the way.

“I thought his interception was a pivotal play,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “Mike’s interception was key because it led to points.”

It wasn’t the only key play McKenzie would make.

With 4:12 to go in the third quarter, the Patriots, trailing 31-17, were facing a fourth-and-4 at the New Orleans 10.

There still was lots of time left, but Belichick –– obviously feeling he needed more than just three points because the Saints seemed to be racking up seven every time they got their hands on the ball –– decided to forgo the chip-shot field goal and try to pick at least a first down and, hopefully, a touchdown.

After a timeout, Brady tried to get the ball to Moss near the front-left corner of the end zone. But McKenzie was there to knock it away.

Also contributing to the New Orleans defensive effort was cornerback Chris McAlister, another veteran who signed with the Saints just two weeks ago.

“It’s pretty amazing,” Brees said, “that those guys weren’t a part of our team two weeks ago. The fact that they got out there and played as much as they did and fit into the scheme was amazing. We do some pretty complicated things defensively. But that’s what you get from veteran corners.”

What’s amazing is that Brady and the Patriots had so many problems against the Saints’ injury-riddled secondary, while Brees and the Saints scored with ease against a New England defense that came into the game ranked second in the league in fewest points allowed.

“They played really well as a team,” Brady said. “They played a great game and we didn’t play so well. We obviously didn’t play up to their level. There’s a big gap between us.”

Brees modestly suggested it wasn’t as big as it may have appeared.

“I think people are going to talk about this game and maybe blow it out of proportion a little bit,” he said.

“I have a lot of respect for Tom Brady and what he’s been able to accomplish. You know that your best game is going to be needed to be successful. I just tried to give it my best.”

And he succeeded.

“We were able to accomplish something offensively that was pretty special,” Brees said.

Many times, Brady has been special. But, against the Saints, he was nothing special.

He may be on the cover of GQ. But, this week, it’s Brees who could be on the cover of S.I.

jdonalds@projo.com