FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – The New England Patriots will play host to the New Orleans Saints in a nationally televised preseason game, and also travel to Cincinnati for the second year in a row to play the Bengals in an exhibition.

The Super Bowl champions open their 2005 preseason at Cincinnati on Aug. 12.

The Patriots lost to the Bengals 31-3 in the preseason last year, but beat the Bengals during the regular season 35-28.

New England plays host to the Saints on Aug. 18, and is also scheduled to play New Orleans during the regular season.

The Patriots travel to Green Bay for the first time since 1997 on Aug. 25 to play the Packers, then conclude their preseason schedule against the New York Giants on Sept. 1. It will be the fourth time in the last five years that the Patriots and Giants have played in the preseason.

The regular season schedule will be announced on Wednesday.