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Chase Daniel, Alvin Kamara help New Orleans Saints jolt punchless Los Angeles Chargers

By The Sports Xchange
New Orleans Saints QB Chase Daniel throws a pass against the Oakland Raiders at the Coliseum in Oakland, California. File photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
New Orleans Saints QB Chase Daniel throws a pass against the Oakland Raiders at the Coliseum in Oakland, California. File photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

With starting quarterbacks Drew Brees and Philip Rivers sitting out, the New Orleans Saints posted a 13-7 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night in Carson, Calif., in the second preseason game for both teams.

Chase Daniel replaced Brees and led New Orleans to 10 first-quarter points against the Chargers' first-unit defense.

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Kellen Clemens subbed for Rivers and struggled for the second straight week.

The Saints (1-1) started quickly with rookie Alvin Kamara taking the first handoff 50 yards through the left side for a touchdown. Wil Lutz added a 53-yard field goal on the next series, a kick that was set up by Daniel's 28-yard pass to Michael Thomas.

Dexter McCoil returned a fourth-quarter interception 99 yards for the Chargers only points. Lutz followed with a 26-yard field goal.

Los Angeles (0-2) had trouble moving the ball against the Saints' defense, collecting only 158 total yards. That continued a disturbing trend from the Chargers' preseason-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks in which Los Angeles was blanked in the second half.

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The Chargers, who haven't scored an offensive touchdown in seven consecutive quarters, got inside the Saints' 35 yard-line just once in the first half. They punted four times in the opening 30 minutes.

Cardale Jones, who is battling Clemens for the No. 2 job, marched the Chargers to the Saints 18-yard line in the third quarter before Jamaal Jones fumbled a reception.

Daniel finished 7 of 12 for 80 yards.

Clemens, who was sacked four times, completed 10 of 17 passes for 99 yards.

Kamara led all rushers with 61 yards on five carries.

Jones was the leading receiver with five catches for 47 yards.

Melvin Gordon managed just 8 yards on five carries as the Chargers rushed for 66 yards on 29 attempts.

Both Brees and Rivers went through pregame workouts and were sidelined for precautionary reasons, with Brees sitting out a second game in a row. Saints running back Adrian Peterson was also idle.

The Chargers' final home preseason game drew 21,197.

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