Raiders vs. 49ers: Five storylines to watch ahead of Sunday's rivalry showdown
· Yahoo Sports
The Las Vegas Raiders now have a foundation to build on after breaking their four-game losing streak by defeating the New York Jets 38-33. Beating the Jets is one thing, but now they head to Levi's Stadium to face the San Francisco 49ers. Defeating the 49ers is another matter.
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Las Vegas is 4-4 and is still figuring out who they are under new head coach Klint Kubiak. The Raiders' offense has improved, and Kirk Cousins is giving them some consistency at quarterback. This Sunday's game against the 6-1 San Francisco 49ers will give us a clearer picture of where the Raiders stand.
Is Las Vegas ready to compete with the NFL's better teams?
The Raiders had a must-win game last week and got what they needed; however, they still have a lot to accomplish. Las Vegas has won four games this season; however, those wins haven't been against the NFL's best teams.
The 49ers present a very different problem for the Raiders. They have one of the league's best rosters, a seasoned coaching staff, and a system that has helped them win consistently since Kyle Shanahan took over.
The Raiders need to turn their recent offensive success into a win over a quality team to build much-needed confidence heading into the second half of the season.
Klint Kubiak returns to face familiar opponent
The coaching staffs will likely have a lot of common ground when they meet on Sunday. Kubiak was San Francisco's passing game coordinator in 2023, and he learned from Shanahan. He gained valuable knowledge and experience while learning one of the NFL's top-rated offensive schemes.
Klay Kubiak, Klint’s brother, is also the 49ers' offensive coordinator. Both coaches recognize the value of pre-snap motion, play-action, and creating the best matchup possible.
This game should be exciting because of how each coaching staff handles adjustments. Kubiak understands San Francisco's offensive style, but Shanahan also knows what the Raiders' head coach will try to accomplish.
The chess match between the two coaching staffs should be one of the most exciting parts of Sunday's game.
Battle of the Bay returns
The Raiders will play in the Bay Area for the first time since moving to Las Vegas in 2020. The last time the two teams played in the Bay Area was on November 1, 2018, when the 49ers defeated the Raiders 34-3 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.
The Raiders are now gone from Oakland; however, that doesn't mean they are giving up their position in the Bay Area to the San Francisco 49ers. Oakland has a history with the Silver & Black that remains evident across Northern California. A move to Las Vegas cannot erase the history the Silver & Black established in Oakland. When the Battle of the Bay returns, the Raiders will once again show their former rivals that Oakland and surrounding areas will continue to support the Raiders.
San Francisco is now the only NFL team remaining in the Bay Area; the Raiders have maintained a large portion of their fan base in Oakland and surrounding areas. When these two teams face off on Sunday, it will not simply be "another game." Beating the 49ers still carries pride for the Raiders and their fans, making this return to the rivalry even more special.
Kirk Cousins and Brock Bowers could be the difference
Las Vegas had their best performance of the year last week, scoring 38 points against the Jets. That was largely due to Cousins. He has had some of his most productive games this year and is now second in the league in passing touchdowns (19) after eight weeks. This means Cousins is providing the Raiders with a consistent, veteran presence at quarterback.
The connection he's built with Brock Bowers will likely matter even more on Sunday. Bowers causes issues for opponents because of his versatility in lining up at various positions, finding space in zone coverages, and producing yards after the catch.
The Raiders should also get Ashton Jeanty involved. Currently, the Raiders average just over 77 rushing yards per game. Establishing a balance will help Cousins out against a talented San Francisco defense.
The 49ers should try to force the Raiders to work for every yard. This means Cousins must stay patient, use what the Raiders give him, and capitalize on opportunities.
Will San Francisco's Injuries Change the Matchup?
The 49ers are dealing with injuries and will be without wide receivers Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and Christian Kirk.
Evans provides a big-bodied target who can stretch the field and win contested catches, while Samuel is dangerous whenever he gets the football in space. Kirk gives Brock Purdy another dependable option underneath, particularly when defenses take away the deeper routes. Losing all three could force the 49ers to make significant adjustments to their offensive approach.
The 49ers will have running back Christian McCaffrey and defensive end Nick Bosa back. McCaffrey is important to the 49ers' offense because of his versatility as a runner, receiver, and mismatch creator, giving San Francisco flexibility most other NFL teams can't match. Las Vegas will have to run different protection schemes for Bosa, and Cousins will need to watch him at all times.
The Raiders will need to prepare for the fact that the 49ers have plenty of options when it comes to using their roster. Shanahan has repeatedly shown he can use every option at his disposal, and Sunday's contest should be no different.
Final Thoughts
Las Vegas’ biggest challenge will be establishing a balanced attack on offense. Cousins has proven he can throw the ball effectively, Bowers is still a difficult matchup, and Jeanty, along with Mike Washington Jr., can add another piece to the Raiders' offense if the run game becomes productive.
Kubiak will also have the chance to show his offense's progress since he took over as head coach. Facing Shanahan and the team he previously coached adds another dimension to what should be a highly anticipated game.
The Raiders need to show they are a complete team on Sunday, but if they want to be considered a serious contender for the rest of the season, beating the 49ers would be a great way to start.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders vs. 49ers: Five storylines to watch ahead of Sunday's rivalry showdown