Raiders face top-tier test at 49ers
Las Vegas travels to San Francisco Sunday as a major underdog, seeking a victory against a team with a winning record.
By Lucas Collins ·
The Raiders hit the road Sunday to play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium.
Las Vegas won its last game against the New York Jets 38-33 on Wednesday.
That win snapped a four-game losing streak and put the team at 4-4.
The Raiders are now 6-1 against teams with winning records since Christmas Day 2023.
Betting markets price the Raiders around 6-to-1 to reach the playoffs.
They are the biggest underdog on the Week 9 slate at +10.
The game starts at 1:25 p.m. and airs on Fox 5.
Raider Nation Radio 920 AM will carry the audio broadcast.
The Raiders' defense allows 6.1 yards per play.
They allow 5.1 yards per rush.
The 49ers lead the league with 6.4 yards per play.
San Francisco also leads in expected points added per play at +0.18 per play.', "Kirk Cousins threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns against the Jets. "He completed 19 of 26 passes in that game. "Ashton Jeanty leads all running backs with 37 receptions. "He has 376 yards and three touchdowns on the season. "Jalen Nailor caught four passes for 38 yards and a touchdown against the Jets. "Dylan Laube returned a kick 95 yards for a touchdown against the Jets. "That ended a 248-game drought for the Raiders. "Laube now averages 34.1 yards per kick return. "He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. "San Francisco has five injured wide receivers. "Nick Bosa and Trent Williams are expected to play. "Brock Purdy will likely lean on Jordan Watkins more this week. "Watkins caught three of six targets for 56 yards against Atlanta. "Those are career highs for the second-year receiver. "The 49ers special teams rank 26th in the NFL by DVOA. "The Raiders defense ranks near the bottom in several key metrics. "Coach Klint Kubiak runs the offense in Las Vegas. "His brother Klay Kubiak is the offensive coordinator in San Francisco. "Rob Leonard is the defensive coordinator for the Raiders. "He says every player competes for their job daily. "The 49ers have the league's best offense by EPA per play. "The Raiders have the sixth-best passing offense by EPA per play. "The game marks the first meeting since 2023. "The 49ers had a bye week before this game. "The Raiders played on the East Coast last week. "The 49ers defense ranks 18th in EPA per play against the pass. "Cousins has connected with Tre Tucker on several deep passes. "Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer are active tight ends. "The 49ers have been vulnerable to passes to running backs. "The Raiders have a 4-4 record entering the game. "The 49ers have a 6-1 record entering the game. "The game is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. local time. "Fox 5 will televise the matchup. "Radio coverage is on 920 AM. "The Raiders hope to improve their standing in the AFC. "The 49ers aim to maintain their first-place position. "Both teams are looking to solidify their rosters. "Injuries have affected both sides this season. "The Raiders special teams have been a bright spot. "Laube has been a key factor in recent wins. "The 49ers offense has been consistent all year. "The Raiders offense has been inconsistent. "Cousins has shown flashes of elite play. "The defense remains the biggest concern for Las Vegas. "San Francisco has depth at every position. "The Raiders have limited depth in the secondary. "The game is a crucial test for the Raiders.
