Pirate Galaxy » zil turned a close game into a rout and prov

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The most daring gambler on the NFLs first weekend turns out not to be much of a betting man at all.Raiders coach Jack Del Rio isnt a big fan of horse racing and probably wont be seen at a poker or craps table any time soon.Im not a gambler, but I do believe in having the courage to do what I think is best for this football team, Del Rio said Monday, one day after the Raiders scored on a two-point conversion with 47 seconds left and held on to beat the New Orleans Saints 35-34.Good or bad, Im willing to do that when Im doing what in my gut I believe is the right thing. Part of that was showing the belief in our football team -- showing the belief in Derek Carr, showing the belief in Michael Crabtree. Showing the belief in our group to go down and do the things we needed to do to win that game.The Raiders trailed 24-10 early in the second half before scoring 22 points over the last 12 minutes of the fourth quarter, including the final two on Oaklands gutsy two-point conversion with the game on the line.Carr had just thrown his only touchdown of the game, a 10-yarder to Seth Roberts, when Carr immediately signaled for the two-point try. In a stroke of confidence and pre-planning, Del Rio had informed his third-year quarterback the team would be going for the win rather than having Sebastian Janikowski attempt a game-tying extra point.Following a quick timeout to discuss things, Carr found Crabtree with a perfectly placed fade pass that Crabtree caught despite tight coverage from Saints cornerback Ken Crawley. Crawley, an undrafted rookie, was in the game because starter Delvin Breaux was out with a broken leg suffered in the third quarter.The Raiders had also successfully gone for two earlier in the game after whiffing on their first try.Del Rio wouldnt say what went into the decision to do it with the game on the line, only that it was not an off-the-cuff move.I prefer to keep strategy inside, in-house, Del Rio said. A lot of factors went into it. At the end of the day, you have to go with what you believe is right for your football team. I believed that we would come back and win that game. I believed that going for it was the right thing to do.Del Rio also stood by his decision to bench starting cornerback Sean Smith midway through the third quarter after the eighth-year veteran was repeatedly beaten by the Saints receivers, most notably on a 98-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Drew Brees to Brandin Cooks that was the longest in franchise history.Del Rio said that Smith, one of Oaklands top free agent acquisitions this offseason after signing a four-year contract worth nearly $40 million, will start again this week in the Raiders home opener against Atlanta.The Raiders coach also emphasized that he expects much more from Smith and told him so after the game.I said, `Hey, youve got to own up to that, Del Rio said. That certainly wasnt anywhere near where it needed to be and I know youll bounce back. Be ready to face the music because theyre going to be coming at you. Hes a big boy. Hell bounce back. Hes going to be a good player for us. It was not what we need and he knows that.Del Rio also praised Oaklands running game after the Raiders rushed for 167 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown by undrafted rookie Jalen Richard.Oakland also scored on two short touchdown runs, something Del Rio hinted might have factored into the decision to go for the game-winning two-point conversion.Its going to create almost mandatory one-on-one situations, Del Rio said. And a guy like Michael one-on-one is a pretty good bet there.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/AP-NFL Custom Devin Bush Jersey . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. Wholesale Custom Steelers Shirts . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. http://www.customsteelersjersey.com/custom-devin-bush-jersey-large-77w.html . -- In one brief spurt, Brazil turned a close game into a rout and proved again it will be a strong World Cup favourite. Cheap Custom Steelers Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Custom Steelers T-shirts . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. ' ' '