Today, the San Francisco 49ers (7-5) will travel across the bay to play the Oakland Raiders (1-11) at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.
The 49ers are coming off of a bitter 19-3 home defeat to the rival Seattle Seahawks . The Raiders are coming off of a humiliating 52-0 road loss to the St. Louis Rams.
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The loss to the Seahawks has further fueled speculation among the media regarding 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh's future with the team. Many wonder if today's opponent could be a likely landing spot for Harbaugh should the 49ers decide to part ways with him. A loss to the lowly Raiders could seal Harbaugh's fate in the eyes of ownership and management.
However, there are many who wonder why the 49ers would make such a move considering the state of the team prior to Harbaugh's arrival. The 49ers had missed the playoffs for eight straight seasons. Since his arrival, they have made it to the NFC Championship in each of his three seasons with the team and had a Super Bowl appearance.
On Monday, when asked if he would like to return to the 49ers in 2015, he dodged the question and simply stated, "What I want is to attack this week and get it right."
The 49ers are currently one-game behind the teams in the lead for a wild-card spot.
Against the Seahawks, quarterback Colin Kaepernick had the second lowest passer rating of his career at 36.7. He was just 16 of 29 for 121 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions.
The team is averaging just 19.3 points per game and is need of a major confidence builder. The Raiders defense, which gave up 52 points to the Rams on Sunday may be just the cure they need. Of course, if the 49ers cannot get anything going against the Raiders, their playoff hopes may be finished.
The 49ers and Raiders have not faced each other since 2010, which running back Frank Gore rushed for 149 yards in a 17-9 win at Candlestick Park.
Against the Rams, the Raiders turned the ball over a season-high five times. Rookie quarterback Derek Carr was benched after going 24 of 39 for 173 yards and two interceptions. He was replaced by Matt Schaub who was 5 of 9 for 57 yards and an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Carr will get the start against the 49ers.
As usual, you can visit 49erswebzone.com for the latest news and updates during and after the game.
Quick Hits:
With a win, the 49ers will be 5-1 against the Raiders in their past six meetings.
This would be the 49ers' third straight road win.
With a win, Jim Harbaugh would improve his record against the AFC to 12-3.
The 49ers can improve to 4-0 since 2011 following a game on Thursday Night Football.
49ers quarterbacks have an all-time passer rating of 89.7 against the Raiders -- an NFL record against the Raiders.
Linebacker Chris Borland's 80 tackles ranks first in the NFL among players with six of fewer starts.
Offensive Rankings:
The 49ers rank 22nd with 325.3 yards per game. The Raiders rank 32nd with 279.9 yards per game.
Defensive Rankings:
The 49ers rank 4th, allowing 306.7 yards per game. The Raiders rank 15th, allowing 359.4 yards per game.
Last Meeting:
The 49ers beat the Raiders 17-9 in 2010 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, CA.
Kickoff:
The game kicks off at 1:25 PM PT.
Betting:
The 49ers are 8.5 point favorites.
Fan Picks:
At Yahoo! Sports, 78% of fans believe that the 49ers will win this game. Within our Pick 'em contest, 98% of fans believe that the 49ers will win this game.
Follow the Game:
You can follow the game live on NFL.com's Game Center.
Social Media:
You can also discuss the game with fans in the 49erswebzone.com forums. Become a fan of 49erswebzone.com on Facebook and Google+ or follow us on Twitter.
Television:
The game will be televised on FOX. Check 506 Sports to see if the game will be played in your area.