NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Drew Brees started moving his right arm as if to loosen his throwing shoulder after a heavy hit from Tampa Bay defensive end Jacquies Smith.

Asked if he even considered sitting out even a snap or two to take stock of what was apparently bothering him, Brees responded, “Absolutely not.”

Yet he didn’t play up to his usual, prolific standard, and the Saints fell to 0-2 with a 26-19 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.

After missing the playoffs with a 7-9 record last season, the Saints overhauled their roster, which is now loaded with young players. But they still hoped to return quickly to contention with key veterans like Brees leading the way. For the time being, however, they sit alone in last place in the NFC South, already two games behind Atlanta and Carolina.

“This is a marathon. You’ve got to reiterate that to the young guys and make sure that nobody is overreacting,” said Brees, who completed 24 of 38 passes for 255 yards and one TD, along with one interception. “Certainly there is a sense of urgency. The only way you can right the ship is by winning one game.”

The Saints turned the ball over twice on fumbles — one each by running back Mark Ingram and receiver Willie Snead — and once on Chris Conte’s interception of Brees. Still, New Orleans had two plays to tie it from the Bucs 27 in the final 8 seconds, but both passes fell incomplete.