The Saints improved their record to 5-5 with a 38-17 win over the Raiders in Oakland on Sunday.
The offense continued its balanced attack, rushing for more than 100 yards for the third consecutive game. Mark Ingram led the way for the Saints’ ground game, rushing 12 times for 67 yards and a touchdown.
Drew Brees provided another masterful performance, completing 74.1 percent of his passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns.
Lance Moore caught two of Brees’s touchdown passes, totaling 53 yards.
“I think had you told us or anybody that after 0-4 we would be looking at 5-5 at some point, winning five of six with that schedule that we had in front of us, a lot of people might have looked at that and said that’s pretty unrealistic," Brees said in a post-game press conference.
The defense continued to improve, forcing two turnovers including a key interception return for a touchdown by Malcolm Jenkins in the first quarter.
Travaris Cadet showed promise on special teams, returning the second-half kickoff 75 yards into Raiders’ territory.
One play later, Ingram rushed 27 yards to put the Saints up by three touchdowns and set the tone for the rest of the game.
"As I look at our team and just the way that we’re building and the way that we’re winning, we’re doing it the right way,” Brees said.
The Saints have now won five of their last six games to rebound from an 0-4 start and face a pair of crucial upcoming games starting this Sunday at home against the 49ers.
