LATEST SAINTS HEADLINES

• David keeps the faith, gives Saints a lift
Critics have been brutal, present company included.

• There's no shackling Shockey on sideline
For a number of reasons, the Saints need to get Jeremy Shockey back on the football field.

• WHY STOP NOW?
A 34-3 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday at the Superdome was just what the Saints needed to erase some of the bad vibes that lingered from the start of their season.

• Brees carves win with predicted precision
If you listen to right tackle Jon Stinchcomb, who spends a good part of his Sundays in the huddle with Drew Brees, here's his story on the Saints quarterback.

• Bush less flashy, just as effective
Reggie Bush didn't provide quite the same kind of theatrics in Sunday's 34-3 victory over the Oakland Raiders that he did six days earlier at the Superdome.

• GRADING THE SAINTS
OFFENSE -- 4 fleurs-de-lis

• Mehlhaff overcomes early miscues, jitters
Taylor Mehlhaff made one of those cardinal mistakes for NFL kickers.

• Saints are keeping foes grounded with a stout defense against the run
Don't look now, but the New Orleans Saints are playing some defense.

• SUPERLATIVE
The penalties decreased, the turnovers disappeared and the Saints won by their largest margin in almost five years.

• THE RECAP
DID YOU SEE

• UNHAPPY HOMECOMING
Former LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell certainly looks the part of a big-time NFL quarterback.

• ESCHEW THE MISCUE
Talent and expectations, along with a 2-3 record, can often lead to questions about what a team is missing.

• LIFE AFTER MORTEN ANDERSEN
Morten Andersen kicked 13 years for the Saints. Since his departure in 1995, six players have kicked for the Black & Gold. Here are their numbers in the regular season and how they stack up against Andersen in New Orleans.

• Saints still trying to fill Andersen's kicking shoe
A warm, Big Easy welcome to Saints rookie kicker Taylor Mehlhaff, the team's sixth-round pick from Wisconsin.

• Saints vs. Raiders Insider
RAIDERS (1-3) AT SAINTS (2-3)

• Vintage Al Davis continues to keep us guessing
"He conned me like he conned all you people."

• Week 6 Inside Slant
GAME 2 WATCH: Carolina (4-1) at Tampa Bay (3-2), noon. A pivotal game in the NFC South that won't be seen on Fox 8, which has rights to show the game in the New Orleans market. What viewers will see in the noon to 3 p.m. time slot are Judge Joe Brown (noon to 1 p.m.) and America's Home Funniest Videos. (1 to 3 p.m.). Enjoy, compliments of new station owner Tom Benson.

• Week 6 NFL notes
AROUND THE NFC SOUTH

• Week 6 NFL picks
SAINTS 27, RAIDERS 24 (OT): Today's feature presentation at the Superdome pits two sub-.500 teams that have had difficulty holding fourth-quarter leads, suggesting the possibility of OHHvvvertime. Sebastian Janikowski misses potential winning 85-yard field-goal attempt in regulation, prompting Raiders owner Al Davis to consider firing his kicker for cause. Rookie kicker TaylorMade Mehlhaff wins it for Black & Gold.

• Week 6 NFL Power Rankings
TOP 12

• Colston might make return
Receiver Marques Colston is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. However, in his mind, he expects to be ready to go after a good week of practice.

• Haslett confession a start in the right direction
Did you feel the earth move Friday morning?

• GROUP PROJECT
Reggie Bush came shooting down the right sideline at a maximum speed of 22.6 miles per hour during the first of his two punt return touchdowns Monday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

• Receiver Colston showing progress
After a return to the practice field Wednesday, Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey missed Thursday's session. Receiver Marques Colston practiced on a limited basis for the second consecutive day, prolonging the hope he could be back on the playing field as soon as Sunday.

• Colston, Shockey practice
The Saints finally got some good news on the injury front when receiver Marques Colston and tight end Jeremy Shockey returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday.

• Payton could not afford to stick with Gramatica
From the human perspective, it's important to remember NFL players are people who have families, that there's no intent to fail, that they're probably more upset by their errors than anyone because what they're doing is their job and passion.

• Raiders await Russell's breakout game
For the fourth time in five seasons, and with the same distinctive owner at the helm, the Oakland Raiders are hoping for a new and improved team with a change in coaching leadership, beginning with Sunday's game against the Saints.

• TIME TO REBOOT
Hoping to get their kicking game on solid footing for the first time in two years, the Saints replaced struggling veteran Martin Gramatica with rookie Taylor Mehlhaff on Wednesday.

• Gramatica gives Saints kick in the gut
No Saints player's approval rating has suffered more damage in the past three weeks than kicker Martin Gramatica.

• Saints place Porter on injured reserve
As Tuesday progressed, the news got worse for Saints starting cornerback Tracy Porter, who injured his right wrist Monday night against Minnesota.

• Simple mistakes cost N.O.
Heads didn't roll at Saints camp Tuesday morning -- or feet, for that matter.

• Bunch of disasters doom Saints
So what do you say?

• CB Winfield comes up big for Vikings
At 5 feet 9, 180 pounds, Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield comes in a small package.

• IT'S NOT ENOUGH
The Saints' 2008 season should have come with a warning sign. Clearly, this ride is not for the faint of heart.

• Saints can't shake penalty bug
Saints Coach Sean Payton grew so tired of his team committing penalties in last week's win over San Francisco and during practice after the victory that he ordered his offense to run a lap around the team's practice field Wednesday.

• Saints didn't play smart football and paid price
Are you ready for some football?

• SAINTS GRADES
OFFENSE

• Saints manage to find a way to lose
The Vikings didn't find a way to win so much as the Saints created a way to lose.

• Saints vs. Vikings Grades
The Saints entered the game wanting to throw the ball and they accomplished that with quarterback Drew Brees and a patchwork receiving corps, but their running game was nearly non-existent (22 rushes, 55 yards, 2.5-yard average). Brees completed 26 of 46 passes for 330 yards and one touchdown but he also committed three turnovers (two interceptions, one lost fumble). Reggie Bush got his touches from the line of scrimmage -- 19 for 93 total yards -- and wide receiver Devery Henderson caught four passes for 104 yards and scored the team's lone offensive touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Brees. Once again, Deuce McAllister was missing in action. False starts and missed opportunities came back to haunt at the end.

• Saints vs. Vikings Recap
DID YOU SEE?

• TEAM STATISTICS
Vikings | Saints

• 'GROWN MAN FOOTBALL'
Win or lose tonight, the Saints can count on one thing -- they'll be feeling it Tuesday morning.

• INSIDE THE GAME
Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings -- 15-21 overall, 1-3 this season -- 2006-present

• READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?
The Saints are 8-16 in Monday Night Football appearances.

• CLASS OF 2006 HEAD COACHES
Includes regular season and playoffs

• Payton, McCarthy head Class of 2006
When Sean Payton was named coach of the Saints before the 2006 season, almost one-third of the NFL was making a dramatic change. Payton was one of 10 head coaches hired for that season, and he was one of seven without NFL head coaching experience.