49ers / Raiders Preview – Are the Raiders Done?

49ers / Raiders Preview – Are the Raiders Done?

by Thomas Quaynor – NFL analyst for Wannamakeabet.com

The San Francisco 49ers (11-4) visit the Las Vegas Raiders (6-9) on New Year’s Day. The NFC West champion 49ers come into this game on an 8-game winning streak after a 37-20 win at home over the Washington Commanders last week. The Raiders are coming off a last minute 13-10 loss at Pittsburgh, they still have a 1% chance of making the playoffs even with a 6-9 record. The 49ers opened as a 5.5-point favorite, the line has jumped to 10 due to key personnel change the Raiders made on Wednesday. The 49ers have covered the number in 7 of their 8 straight wins. 

Why The 49ers Will Win

Despite losing key players to injury, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in the enviable position of playing their best football heading into the playoffs. The #1 defense has dominated the entire season behind NFL sack leader (17.5) Nick Bosa, linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw, and safety Talanoa Hufanga who has 4 interceptions, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and a pick-six touchdown. 

Third string quarterback/”Mr. Irrelevant” Brock Purdy has stepped in and done an admirable job passing for 912 yards and 8 touchdowns to 3 interceptions over 7 games. Could Purdy actually be the 49ers quarterback of the future over Trey Lance, who the 49ers selected 3rd overall in the 2021 draft. If the 49ers win the Super Bowl with Purdy as their quarterback, they will have quite the dilemma as to who their starting quarterback will be in 2023. The offense has scored 30+ points in three of the past four games, so the 49ers are clicking on all cylinders right now.

Why The Raiders Will Win

The Las Vegas Raiders started the season with high expectations after making the playoffs last season and completing a sign and trade for superstar wideout Davante Adams in March, but a bad start, close losses and inconsistency from quarterback Derek Carr now has them at 6-9 and a 1% chance of making the playoffs. 

Head coach Josh McDaniels made the decision to bench Carr for the final 2 games and is going with Josh Stidham, who will be making his first NFL start against the 49ers. Carr has reportedly stepped away from the team for the final 2 games which indicates his 9-year tenure with the Raiders is probably over. It’s also believed they benched Carr to avoid having to pay him 33 million dollars next season if he suffered an injury over the last 2 games, it looks like benching Carr now allows them to get out of the 3-year extension they signed him to before this season. 

Davante Adams was college teammates with Carr at Fresno State, and that bond may have played a big role in him joining the Raiders, what sort of mindset will he have over these last 2 games? Does he even want to be a Raider anymore? Adams has continued his elite level of play with the Raiders this year with 88 catches for 1,290 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

The Pick

The 49ers appear to be the best team in the NFL at the moment, while the Raiders look to be in complete disarray with 9-year starter Derek Carr essentially shown the door a few days ago, lay the points…49ers 31, Raiders 13