The Saints knocked off the Raiders 40-20 in a primetime contest Sunday night at O. co. Coliseum.
The Saints offense had its strongest performance of the preseason as it compiled 514 total net yards, 388 passing and 126 rushing.
QB Drew Brees completed 15 of 23 passes for 189 yards. Daniel replaced Brees on the Saints fourth drive of the game and went 9-18 for 191 yards including touchdown strikes to TE Tory Humphrey and WR Adrain Arrington.
TE Jimmy Graham led the Saints in receiving with five receptions for 73 yards, including a 23-yard catch. WR Robert Meachem added three receptions for 61 yards.
The Saints had a balanced rushing attack as Joique Bell, Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas all rushed for a score. Bell led the way with 50 yards on six carries. Patrick Cobbs had a solid outing with 48 yards on four carries.
"I was pleased with the effort and our energy tonight," said Head Coach Sean Payton. "That was something that was a goal of ours for this game - just playing hard."
The Saints offense cruised on their opening drive. Brees opened the drive with a 38-yard bomb to WR Devery Henderson, Henderson's first catch of the preseason.
Brees completed 5-7 for 69 yards on the opening drive. On 3rd-and-goal on the one-yard line, Ingram raced in for his third touchdown of the preseason for the first score of the game with 10:45 left in the first quarter.
The Raiders responded on their opening drive as they went 91 yards on seven plays ending with a 35-yard touchdown catch by WR Derek Hagan.
The Saints mirrored their opening drive as Brees fired all over the field to put the Saints at first and goal at the one where Thomas leaped over the line to put the Saints up 14-0 with 33 seconds left in the first quarter.
The start of the second quarter saw the first punt of the game as the Saints defense stopped the Raiders and received the ball at their 21-yard line with 13:02 remaining in the first half.
The Saints continued their scoring spree on the third drive when K Garrett Hartley connected on a 33-yard field goal to increase the Saints lead to 17-7 with 7:28 left in the second quarter.
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The Raiders trimmed the Saints advantage on their next drive as K Sebastian Janikowski hit a 57-yard field goal to put the Saints lead at 17-10 with 2:31 left before halftime.
Daniel took over at quarterback for the Saints but was unable to continue the Saints scoring streak as New Orleans was forced to punt for the first time.
The Raiders drove all the way to the New Orleans 26-yard line and were in position to score when Jason Campbell was intercepted by S Jonathan Amaya in the endzone.
Kyle Boller took over at quarterback for the Raiders to open the third quarter. Boller and the Raiders drove 80 yards on six plays and knotted the scoreboard on a 22-yard run by RB Taiwan Jones with 12 minutes left in the third quarter.
After the Saints were forced to punt, Janikowski connected on a 39-yard field goal to give the Raiders a 20-17 lead with 8:31 left in the third quarter.
Oakland couldn't hold onto their first lead for long as two minutes later, Daniel lofted a three-yard touchdown pass to Humphrey to give the Saints a 24-20 advantage with 6:13 left in the third.
Bell shined for the Saints on their next drive. On first and 10 at the Saints 25-yard line, Daniel dumped it to Bell who raced 60 yards down the sideline for the longest reception of the game.
Daniel then hit Ingram for an 18-yard gain to put the Saints inside the five-yard line. Three plays later, Bell dove up the middle for a one-yard score to give the Saints a 30-20 lead. The Saints went for the 2-point conversion and Daniel connected with Arrington for the score to put the Saints up 32-20.
Trent Edwards entered the game at quarterback for the Raiders on their next drive. The Saints forced their second turnover when DE Junior Galette scooped up a bad snap at the Raiders 39-yard line with 11:21 left in fourth quarter.
On the very next play, Daniel tossed a beautiful 39-yard touchdown strike Arrington. The Saints went for two and converted on a two-yard run by Bell to push New Orleans' lead to 40-20.
