Darren Sharper said that the New Orleans Saints had about 50 years of combined experience in their defensive backfield during their much-heralded victory over the New England Patriots.

He chuckled when he said it, but he wasn't exaggerating.

The Saints have overhauled their defensive backfield with a group of veterans that easily could have been dismissed as over the hill.

Chris McAlister and Mike McKenzie were picked up in the past couple weeks to round out a group dealing with injuries to cornerbacks Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer and Leigh Torrence. McKenzie and McAlister have 22 NFL seasons between them and are coming back from knee injuries. The pair joined a unit that includes Sharper and safety Pierson Prioleau, who have 24 seasons between them.

During certain passing situations against the Patriots on Monday night, the four were on the field together along with fourth-year strong safety Roman Harper and rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. Together, that's 51 seasons.

They were hardly old and slow. Tom Brady was intercepted twice, first by McKenzie, who hadn't played an NFL game in more than a year because of a fractured right kneecap.

Later, Sharper, a 13-year veteran who began the season as the NFL's active interception leader, picked off his eighth pass of the season, the 62nd of his career.

"The experience factor was big, especially for last game," Sharper said. "That's going to carry through for the rest of the season, not only being experienced but being able to play _ and being play-makers."

It's not clear how long it will be before Porter returns from a severe left knee sprain. Greer might be ready to return from his left groin pull Sunday at Washington, but said the Saints appear to be in good shape regardless, based on the way McKenzie and McAlister stepped in.

"They were tremendous. They've raised the bar on our cornerback play," Greer said. "I've been looking for that veteran corner here, someone I can pick their brain and gain knowledge from. Their presence is going to benefit us and me as a person."

Saints players found McKenzie's return particularly remarkable. In addition to his interception, he broke up several passes, including a fourth-down throw to Randy Moss when the Patriots were threatening to pull within a touchdown in the third quarter.

The Saints had cut McKenzie in the offseason and weren't planning to bring him back when they signed McAlister to compensate for Porter's absence in Week 11.

In the next game at Tampa Bay, Torrence injured his shoulder. It was around that time that McKenzie called coach Sean Payton, leaving him a voice message to the effect that he'd remained in New Orleans during his rehabilitation and would like another shot.