``All the booing and loud stuff really doesn't get to me,'' Maroney said. ``Sometimes, that actually helps me. There's nothing better than when a whole stadium is rooting against you wanting you to fail and you still play a good game. (You're like), `Man, how can I get this crowd to be quiet?' Just make plays . . . One play silences the whole dome.''

With the undefeated Saints looming, the Patriots are hoping for their second road victory of the season.

There have been chances. They led the Jets in the Meadowlands at the half, controlled the game until the fourth quarter in Denver and led by 17 at Indianapolis.

Yet the result is a 1-3 road record, with the only victory coming in London against Tampa Bay.

For a team that is second in the NFL with a 50-26 road record since the start of 2000, it's a rare issue. Even last year, the Pats were 6-2 away from Gillette Stadium.

``You want a victory, whether home or road,'' safety Brandon McGowan said. ``But I think away games are a little more important. That shows the toughness of your team, what you can do in a big, strong, noisy environment.''

The Pats' 7-3 campaign has had its moments. Just not signature ones.

Coach Bill Belichick was clear that the cruise-control victory against the Bucs at Wembley Stadium wasn't among them.

``That really wasn't the kind of hostile environment we normally see on the road,'' Belichick said. ``Look, you've got to win some at home (and) you've got to win some on the road. You can't win them all in one place. It's just not enough wins.''

The Patriots plan accordingly, using a silent count on offense to deal with noise.

``I would say that's probably most teams except some of the teams that come here,'' Belichick said. ``The loud stadiums, you've got to have it.''

With the crowd having until the 8:30 p.m. kickoff to roam Bourbon Street, noise may be a factor. The defensive players will be fine, since fans won't disrupt their own offense.

``I never really hear anything,'' defensive end Ty Warren said.

It's a different story for the offensive players.

``It's hard for us to hear as defenders, so I can just imagine what the offensive guys have to deal with because it's deafening,'' Saints safety Darren Sharper said. ``I can be touching facemasks with you and you're yelling. I still can't hear you.''

When players recall their toughest road environments, the Superdome makes the list. It may be a factor tomorrow, too.

``You always want to be able to play on the road,'' Pats center Dan Koppen said. ``Unfortunately, we don't have as good a record there as we'd like. Fans are going to be into it, it's another thing we'll have to deal with it. Make sure everybody's on the same page.''

- irapoport@bostonherald.com