Paul G's Instant Replay: Saints 38, Raiders 17

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Paul Gutierrez's Insider Take of the Raiders' 38-17 loss to the New Orleans Saints Sunday at the O.co ColiseumOAKLAND -- Marcel Reece rushed for a career-high 103 yards, on 19 carries, Carson Palmer extended his franchise record for 200-plus yard passing games to 16, with 312 yards through the air, and the defense showed up in spurts.But none if it was enough against a New Orleans team hitting its stride and running roughshod over Oakland to the tune of a 38-17 Saints victory. Palmer, though, had two costly interceptions, a pick-6 and also was intercepted in the end zone when his pass went through Brandon Myers' hands.Saints quarterback Drew Brees improved to 7-0 with 13 touchdowns and no interceptions in his career against the Raiders after going 20-of-27 for 219 yards with three TDs.The Raiders' losing streak reached three games and they have been outscored by a combined 135-69 in that stretch.Late scoring run ends: The Raiders could not score in the final two minutes of the first half, ending their streak of doing just that in the first nine games of the season.Joselio Hanson, playmaker?: Simmer down. But at least the diminutive slot defensive back made his presence known. First, he forced a fumble by Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, though New Orleans recovered. One play later, Hanson blitzed and forced Drew Brees to take an intentional grounding penalty. Then, on the opening kickoff of the second half, Hanson ran down Travaris Cadet, saving a touchdown.Third-quarter woes redux: After getting outscored 14-3 in the third quarter, the Raiders have now been outscored by a combined 123-34 in the third this season, the worst such margin in the NFL.Automatic SeaBass: Even when he's off, he's on. Sebastian Janikowski's 40-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter bounced off the left upright but still went through. It was his 22nd made field goal of the season in 23 attempts, the lone miss being a record-attempting 64-yarder at the end of regulation against Jacksonville.Winning at something: After winning a challenge that overturned a 29-yard reception by Travaris Cadet, Raiders rookie coach Dennis Allen improved to seven-for-seven in challenges, including the preseason, this year. So he's got that going for himwhich is nice.Flores keeps it real: Nothing like listening to a guy with four Super Bowl rings break it down on the radio, and Tom Flores kept up his brutal assessment of the Raiders defense. When Lance Moore somehow got behind Michael Huff and Mike Mitchell for a 38-yard TD on 3rd and 13, Flores spared no one. "It's beyond me how that can happen," Flores said. "Two defensive backs let a guy get behind themyou can't have brain cramps back there."Up next: The Raiders (3-7) travel to Cincinnati to face the suddenly surging Bengals (5-5), who thumped Kansas City, 28-6, Sunday and have former Oakland coach Hue Jackson on their sidelines as an assistant. It will also be a homecoming, of sorts, for Carson Palmer, the No. 1 overall pick of the Bengals in 2003.

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