NEW ORLEANS — Before his gutsy call to win the game, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio made another bold move. He benched cornerback Sean Smith — whom the team signed for four years and $40 million in the offseason — midway through the third quarter.
Smith was struggling even before the 98-yard touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks, but that one sealed his fate. Smith didn’t bump Cooks at all coming off the line of scrimmage, and Cooks dusted him, not even breaking stride to haul in Drew Brees’ pass over the top.