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"It\u2019s a widely known fact that among the NFL\u2019s preseason games, the third one is the one that means the most.Why?Because it\u2019s the only that the starters on both teams usually play all the way to halftime, and sometimes even into the third quarter.After allowing opposing starters to score zero points (and 17 points total) in the Saints\u2019 first two preseason games versus Arizona and New England last season, New Orleans appeared poised to overcome the loss of head coach Sean Payton as well as middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Will Smith to Bountygate suspensions.Then came the Saints\u2019 third preseason game.The Jaguars, wanting to give youngster Blaine Gabbert some experience under center, played him third preseason game minutes (in what was the Jags\u2019 second preseason game, because the Saints participated in the Hall of Fame Game). The result: Jacksonville scored touchdowns on two of its first three possessions and 17 first-half points.OK, maybe the Saints could get a pass because the second touchdown didn\u2019t come against a full unit of starters, and even though it was the Saints\u2019 third preseason game, it wasn\u2019t their REAL third preseason game. It wasn\u2019t the dress rehearsal. That was to come a week later and exactly a year ago Sunday versus the Houston Texans.In a nationally televised contest, both starting offenses were clicking on all cylinders. Drew Breen completed 17 of 25 passes for 179 yards and two scores, but the other quarterback under center Matt Schuab completed 15 of 18 attempts for 194 yards and a touchdown.Arian Foster added a touchdown on the ground, and the explosive contest entered the break tied at 24.One time could be an accident. But twice begins a trend. And concerns regarding the Saints\u2019 defense began to arise. Little did we know how valid they were.Sixteen regular season games and 7,042 yards later, and the Saints wound up giving up the most yards in one season in the history of the game.Now, exactly 365 days after the Texans felly exposed the Saints\u2019 2012 defense to the world, the nearest NFL opponent on the map is once again the Saints\u2019 opponent in their dress-rehearsal preseason game.Save an opening-drive touchdown from the Chiefs in the preseason opener, saying the Saints\u2019 starting defense has been stout would be an understatement. The only other points it has allowed was a Kansas City field goal that came after a three and out. Not the defense\u2019s fault. And New Orleans\u2019 starting \"D\" allowed squadouche on the scoreboard and sacked Oakland starting quarterback Matt Flynn five times in the second preseason game.But Houston, the two-time defending champs of the AFC South, will be much more of a measuring stick than Oakland or Kansas City were, so it\u2019s put up or shut up time for New Orleans\u2019 new-look \"D.\"How will Rob Ryan\u2019s group fare?Find out by tuning in and following live updates of the contest right here on WDSU.com.Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Reliant Stadium.Related content:Scenes from the Superdome: Saints vs. RaidersBrees starts strong, Saints down Raiders 28-20Parker's 2 TDs help Saints top ChiefsSign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here from your desktop computer to sign up; on our mobile website, use the drop down to the right to \"Get Email Alerts.\"11646738"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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