Saints WR Lance Moore scores a touchdown against the Raiders. Oakland was simply overmatched as the  Saints dominated the game. (US Presswire)

The Saints were comfortably ahead by the start of the fourth quarter for the first time all year on Sunday, getting a chance to exhale before their pivotal three-game stretch against San Francisco, Atlanta and the New York Giants. They were not perfect in their 38-17 beatdown of the Raiders on the road, but they were totally in control.

Offense: B+

The first drive set the tone -- a 10-play, 80-yarder that did not feature a third down until Drew Brees passed to uncovered TE Jimmy Graham on third-and-goal from the 1. Brees went 5 for 6 for 41 yards. Mark Ingram ripped off a 16-yard gain on his first carry, and Pierre Thomas followed with a 14-yard gain. It was that easy. The next two possessions actually ended in punts, but it was already clear the Raiders’ banged up defense was overmatched. Lance Moore caught two TD passes, including one on a gorgeous Brees throw to the corner that beat double coverage. The Saints rushed for 153 yards on 28 carries. Brees completed 20 of 27 for 219 yards, three scores and zero interceptions, and he was not sacked. The line did not miss a beat when RT Charles Brown, a replacement for the injured Zach Strief, left with a knee injury in the first half. Brown’s replacement, undrafted rookie Bryce Harris, played the rest of the way. The only thing keeping this grade short of an A is the weakness of the Raiders’ defense. Previous game's grade: A-

Defense: A-

The Saints played poorly on the first two plays (two runs for 25 yards) and on Oakland’s final, garbage-time drive (seven plays, 93 yards), extending their NFL-record streak of allowing 400 or more yards to 10 games. Never mind that stat, though. This clearly was the best defensive performance of the year, regardless of the opponent’s caliber (or lack thereof). Malcolm Jenkins had the first pick-six of his career, returning a Carson Palmer interception 55 yards to make the score 14-0. The Saints had another goal-line stand, as Roman Harper intercepted a deflected pass in the end zone a few plays after the Raiders had first-and-goal at the 1. They also stuffed RB Marcel Reese on fourth-and-1 at their 40. Palmer barely completed more than half of his passes (22 of 40), and the Raiders connected on zero deep balls. The defense is playing faster each week as it gets more comfortable with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme. Previous game's grade: B

Special teams: A-

With the Saints leading 21-7 at the start of the second half, rookie Travaris Cadet took the kickoff and raced 75 yards to the Raiders’ 27, thanks to superb blocking. That return set up a TD on the next play, essentially sealing the victory with almost a full half to play. The Saints kept return ace Darren Sproles inactive (broken left hand) for the third straight week and did not need him. Otherwise, it was an uneventful day. Garrett Hartley connected on a 47-yard FG to pad the lead to 38-10. Thomas Morstead averaged 43 yards on four punts, a drop-off for him. Previous game's grade: A

Coaching: A

The Raiders were overmatched, but look no farther than the Houston-Jacksonville game to see how less talented teams can give superior opponents all they handle if they are not ready. Saints interim coach Joe Vitt sounded the alarm bells early last week after Oakland gave up 55 points to Baltimore, and the players clearly listened. They came out focused, took a quick 14-0 lead and never loosened their grip on the Raiders. The offense was balanced (28 runs, 28 passes). The defense made big plays. The Saints weren’t looking back to their dramatic win over Atlanta or ahead to this Sunday’s rematch with San Francisco, which knocked them out of the playoffs in 2011. That’s good coaching. Previous game's grade: A

Follow Saints reporter Guerry Smith on Twitter @CBSSaints.