49ers’ preseason gets off to uninspiring start in 34-7 loss to Raiders

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan won't have to look far to find things for his team to improve on after their preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

In a game where both teams played mostly their backup players, the 49ers turned in a sloppy performance in a one-sided 34-7 loss to the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Trey Lance started the game at quarterback for the 49ers and finished 10-of-15 for 112 yards and one touchdown with four sacks before Sam Darnold took over to start the second half. Rookie Aidan O'Connell started under center for the Raiders and completed 15-of-18 passes for one touchdown and zero interceptions. The 49ers turned the ball over twice on the day while adding seven penalties for 55 yards.

First Half

The 49ers went three-and-out to open the game, then the Raiders responded with 10-play, 68-yard drive that was capped off by a one-yard run by rookie running back Zamir White on a 3rd-and-Goa to take a 7-0 lead. The touchdown was one of three third downs the Raiders converted on the drive, which saw White run for 28 yards on seven carries and O'Connell complete two passes for 36 yards.

Following another three-and-out from the 49ers, the Raiders took over at their own 29-yard line and were forced to punt after six plays due in part to a second-down sack from former Raider defensive end Clelin Ferrell. But the 49ers moved backwards on the ensuing possession, driven backwards on a third down sack of Lance, one of three for the Raiders in the first quarter.

The 49ers' defense stepped up with a turnover on downs in their own territory on the following drive when cornerback Ambry Thomas stopped White for a loss at the 38-yard line, then the offense responded with their first scoring drive of the game -- a seven-play, 61-drive that culminated with a deflected touchdown catch from nine yards out by tight end Ross Dwelley to tie the game at 7 early in the second quarter.

The Raiders were held to a three-and-out following the touchdown but got the ball back on the next drive when former 49ers defensive end Jordan Willis stopped running back Jordan Mason on a 4th-and-2 for a turnover on downs at the Raiders' 40-yard line. The Raiders converted that play into points, driving 60 yards on eight plays to take a 14-7 lead on a 9-yard touchdown pass from O'Connell to wide receiver Keelan Cole.

34 seconds remained in the half after Cole's touchdown, and the 49ers were able to drive into scoring range after a 24-yard completion from Lance to wide receiver Chris Conley and a 22-yard completion from Lance to tight end Troy Fumagalli that had more yardage added on due to a penalty on the Raiders for unnecessary roughness. But rookie kicker Jake Moody wound up missing his first field goal attempt as a 49er, pushing his kick wide left from 40 yards out as time expired to leave the score at 14-7.

Second Half

The Raiders opened the second half with a 7-play, 37-yard drive that ended with a 53-yard field goal from Daniel Carlson to open up a 17-7 lead, then the 49ers took over with Darnold at quarterback in place of Lance. Darnold connected on a perfect 37-yard pass to wide receiver Ronnie Bell on the second play of the drive then led the 49ers into Raiders' territory, but he fell short of a first down on a 4th-and-1 attempt on the ninth play of the drive, turning the ball over on downs to the Raiders at their own 31-yard line.

The 49ers got the ball back on their own 5-yard line after a three-and-out, but a fumble by rookie tight end Cameron Latu on a 9-yard completion gave the Raiders possession at the 49ers' 14-yard line. The Raiders capitalized four plays later on a two-yard touchdown run by running back Sincere McCormick to extend the lead to 24-7 with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter.

The 49ers took over at their own 30-yard line following an offsides penalty on the kickoff, then drove 30 yards in eight plays to set up a 58-yard field goal attempt from Moody. The kick sailed wide right, giving the Raiders possession at their own 48-yard line. With Chase Garbers in at quarterback in place of McConnell, the Raiders moved inside the 49ers' 25-yard line with the help of an unnecessary roughness call on 49ers linebacker Jalen Graham, then Carlson connected from 46 yards out to stretch the Raiders' lead to 27-7.

Things went from bad to worse for the 49ers on the next possession. Brandon Allen entered the game at quarterback following the field goal, but his first pass as a 49er proved to be one to forget as it went through the hands of Bell and into the hands of defensive back Sam Webb, who returned the ball to the 49ers' 2-yard line. Garbers connected with McCormick on the next play to put the Raiders up 34-7 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game.

The scoring ended from there, with the teams exchanging punts the rest of the way before the 49ers ran out the clock to end the game. The 49ers outgained the Raiders on the day (301 to 272) but finished at minus-2 in the turnover column and were 2-of-10 on third downs to 5-of-13 for the Raiders. The Raiders also gave up just one sack on the day while totaling three penalties for 27 yards.

The 49ers will be back in action next weekend when they face the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium on Saturday, August 19 (8:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. PT).

Related News

• Raiders 34, 49ers 7: Trey Lance sacked four times in rough return The Mercury News • Aug 13, 2023
  May require subscription
• Observations from 49ers preseason blowout loss to Raiders Niners Wire • Aug 13, 2023
• Preseason Week 1 Fantasy Football Game Recap: Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers Pro Football Focus • Aug 13, 2023
• 49ers Kick Off the Preseason vs. Raiders; Six Takeaways from #SFvLV 49ers.com • Aug 13, 2023
• What we learned about Lance, Darnold in 49ers' preseason loss NBCS Bay Area • Aug 13, 2023
• Trey Lance bounces back after rough start; 49ers lose to Raiders in preseason opener Press Democrat • Aug 13, 2023