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Drew Brees looks as if he has found his rhythm early in the preseason.

Brees passed for 202 yards and a touchdown while leading five scoring drives, and the Saints survived a sloppy second half for a 28-20 preseason victory over the Oakland Raiders on Friday night.

Brees' scoring strike was a 16-yarder to rookie Kenny Stills, who made the most of his second straight game playing with the first-team offense.

Brees completed 78 percent of his passes (14 of 18), including a 56-yarder to Nick Toon, setting up Mark Ingam's 2-yard TD run.

New Orleans' new defense under coordinator Rob Ryan thrived, sacking Matt Flynn five times in the first half.

The Saints (2-0) led 23-0 before the Raiders (1-1) scored on Flynn's lone TD pass, an 18-yarder to Denarius Moore, late in the first half. Flynn was 12 of 16 for 124 yards.

The Saints finished with seven sacks. One by linebacker Ramon Humber, who was credited with nine tackles, including a fourth-down stop. The Saints also registered a safety in the fourth quarter when linebacker Will Herring and numerous teammates swarmed running back Jamize Olawale.

Saints coach Sean Payton kept Brees in most of the first half. His second and third series ended with Ingram's and Stills' TDs. Garrett Hartley added field goals of 53, 31 and 30 yards. The Saints never punted in the first half.

Stills, drafted in the fifth round this year, and Toon, a 2012 fourth-rounder who is essentially a rookie after spending last season on injured reserve, could be thrust into regular roles this season. Against the Raiders, at least, they appeared up to the task.












Brees Starts Strong, Saints Down Raiders 28-20 - ABC News

homerj07

Would have liked to have seen us run the ball better. I Hope we work on that next week!!

Rugby Saint II

Drew looks good........as always.