NEW ORLEANS -- Drew Brees and the Saints extended their post-Super Bowl euphoria for at least another week and handed Brett Favre a second consecutive loss in the Louisiana Superdome.
Brees completed 27 of 36 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown, and the Saints survived a hard-fought season opener for a 14-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night.
It wasn't the most spectacular way to open a title defense, considering it was a rematch of the riveting 2009 NFC title game last January, in which the Saints won in overtime to advance to their first Super Bowl.
It was the lowest-scoring victory of the Sean Payton era, which began in 2006, but the Saints will take it, considering their defense limited Favre to 171 passing yards and one score.