NFL

Saints' starters too much for Raiders in preseason

Staff Writer
Plaquemine Post South
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw for 202 yards and one touchdown in the Saints' 28-20 preseason victory over the Oakland Raiders on Friday. POST SOUTH PHOTO/Peter Silas Pasqua

NEW ORLEANS - All the layers weren't evenly baked, so portions of the New Orleans Saints' serving on Friday night remained a little less than savory than others.

But the top layer was nothing less than outstanding.

The starting offensive and defensive units combined to produce a dominant showing during their portion of play in New Orleans' 28-20 victory over Oakland in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The win raised the Saints' preseason record to 2-0, following a 17-13 decision over Kansas City last Friday.

"We did some good things," Coach Sean Payton said. "There were a lot of things you can build on. I thought we were emotionally and physically ready to play. That's pleasing.

Unlike seven days prior, the Saints' offense and defense clicked from the start. Offensively, the first unit that managed a field goal against the Chiefs produced the electricity it has become known for, and scored on its first five possessions (two touchdowns and three field goals). Quarterback Drew Brees completed 14 of 18 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown in the first half, and Mark Ingram carried nine times for 30 yards and a touchdown.

"We knew we wanted to come out with great tempo and execute," Brees said. "Defense did a great job of getting us the ball back. We sustained drives. (I) wish we could have punched a few more of those drives into the end zone and not settled for field goals. But it's nice when you don't punt in the first half."

And defensively, after yielding a 14-play, 80-yard drive to open the game against the Chiefs, the Saints against the Raiders produced a fourth-down stop, forced four punts and blitzed and bulled their way to five first-half sacks of quarterback Matt Flynn. Inside linebacker Ramon Humber had nine tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry in the first half.

By the time the Raiders mustered any offense, and conjured an 11-play, 82-yard touchdown drive at the end of the second quarter, the Saints had scored 23 points and rolled up 241 yards of offense.