Aaron Brooks showed his mentor, Brett Favre, how much he has learned.
Brooks threw two touchdown passes, and the relentless New Orleans defense held off Favre as the Saints beat the Green Bay Packers 35-20 on Sunday.
Brooks, who spent the 1999 season as Green Bay's third-string quarterback, was 16-of-28 for 217 yards and two touchdowns as the Saints jumped out to an early lead.
The Saints (2-0) used the same pressure defense that helped them win their season opener to keep the Packers (1-1) in check. Green Bay gained 357 yards in total offense, but only 95 yards rushing. They completed just 22 percent of their third-down attempts (2-of-9) compared to 70 percent for the Saints, who also had 357 yards total.
Favre, who was 9-0 in the Superdome coming in, including preseason games - a Super Bowl win - and two college victories, was on the run all game. He was 29-of-44 for 270 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked once and broke his string of 158 straight passes without an interception when Darrin Smith grabbed one in the first quarter. He also had two intentional grounding calls against him.
New Orleans was called for nine penalties for 59 yards, including a holding call that nullified a 50-yard touchdown run by Deuce McAllister in the third quarter.
The Saints opened with a 68-yard scoring drive that included three third-down conversions and 54 yards in passing by Brooks before McAllister ran in from 4 yards.
In the second quarter, Brooks found Jerome Pathon with a 5-yard scoring pass to put New Orleans up 14-3.
The Saints stretched the lead to 21-3 on a 34-yard touchdown from Brooks to Donte Stallworth with 2:03 left in the first half. The play was set up by a bruising block by Saints center Jerry Fontenot, and linemen Kyle Turley and Kendyl Jacox then escorted Stallworth to the end zone.
The Packers moved the ball against New Orleans' defense in the first half, but couldn't find the end zone until the final minute. Green Bay held the ball for 7½ minutes on its second drive, but had to settle for a 27-yard field goal after Saints safety Sammy Knight slammed into Javon Walker at the goal line and jarred the ball loose.
The Packers first touchdown came after Mike McKenzie intercepted Brooks and Favre immediately hit Terry Glenn for a 14-yard score with 40 seconds left to make it 21-10 at the break.
The Saints opened the second half with a touchdown. Keyou Craver picked up a fumble by Glenn and returned it 38 yards to make it 28-10 just over a minute into the period.
Favre cut the Saints' lead to 28-17 with 31 seconds left in the third quarter on a 26-yard scoring pass to Donald Driver. Favre was 4-for-4 for 65 yards on the 71-yard drive.
Ryan Longwell kicked his second field goal, a 36-yarder, to pull Green Bay to 28-20 with 4:36 left.
McAllister clinched the victory for New Orleans with a 2-yard touchdown run that made it 35-20 at the 2-minute warning.
McAllister, who took over for Ricky Williams as the Saints' main running back this season, rushed for 123 yards on 21 carries. It was his second straight game with over 100 yards rushing.
Ahman Green rushed for 81 yards for Green Bay, and had 53 yards on 6 receptions.
-- Associated Press
