The Patriots haven't had too many protection issues, but it'll be interesting to see what the Saints come up with after watching what the Jets failed to do last weekend.

PLAYER NOTES

--RB Sammy Morris has been out since Week 6 with a knee injury, but said he'll be a game-time decision come Monday night.

--G Stephen Neal described himself as "day to day" with a head injury. He did not play last weekend after injuring himself against the Colts.

--DL Jarvis Green, who had knee surgery three weeks ago and has not played since, is optimistic about being back on the field this week at New Orleans, which is close to his hometown of Donaldsville, La.

--S Patrick Chung left Sunday's game with a head injury before returning later in the action. He said "it's not a question" when asked if he'll play Monday.

--LT Matt Light is still a major question mark for Monday, though he has been spotted in the locker room this week. Light's replacement, Sebastian Vollmer, has done a good job since being forced into the starting lineup.

GAME PLAN: This is the ultimate battle of wills. The Patriots will bring their high-powered offense to New Orleans and most likely exchange blows with the equally high-voltage Saints, who are threatening to shatter records set by the 2007 Patriots.

Can the Patriots realistically expect to shut down Drew Brees and this offense? Probably not, so the key to success will depend on what New England's offense does. The Saints aren't great defensively, but they're not porous either, so the Patriots should be able to move the chains.

This is the kind of game that could come down to who has the ball last, so there will be plenty of strategy involved, including field-position battles. Ultimately, this could play out like a chess match normally reserved for a low-scoring game, but with high-powered numbers.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Saints TE Jeremy Shockey vs. Patriots S Brandon Meriweather. Shockey is a tough, physical player who's not afraid to go over the middle and absorb punishment in the process. Whether or not Meriweather can deliver that punishment is debatable, but there's little doubt Shockey will be relied upon to soften the defense, so it's up to the Patriots to hit back and not waver.

Saints LB Jonathan Vilma vs. Patriots RB Laurence Maroney. The Patriots have had some success recently running the ball in the red zone, so the Saints will need to buckle down if the Patriots get inside the 20. Maroney has scored a touchdown in each of the last five games, so the Patriots aren't afraid to go to him in key spots, which means the Saints can't overload defensively on just one facet of New England's offense.

Patriots LB Jerod Mayo vs. Saints RB Reggie Bush. This is a matchup of speed vs. speed. Bush is a multi-faceted player who can hurt the Patriots in a number of ways, even as a wide receiver. The key is keeping someone on him at all times. Mayo should be that guy since he's arguably the fastest and most versatile on defense.

INJURY IMPACT: The Patriots would certainly benefit from Sammy Morris' return to the lineup if the veteran running back is available Monday night. This would add a little more versatility to the offense. However, the real key will be what happens up front if Matt Light and Stephen Neal can't play. Expect the Saints to be aggressive whether or not the Patriots are healthy, so it's imperative they have as many reliable bodies on the field as possible. A lack of protection could limit the Patriots' production offensively.