Las Vegas Raiders 2021 preseason Game No. 3 preview and prediction

Aug 14, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back B.J. Emmons (35) is congratulated after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders running back B.J. Emmons (35) is congratulated after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Las Vegas Raiders take on the San Francisco 49ers to close out the preseason, and here is our preview, and prediction of the matchup inside Levi Stadium.

Former Bay Area rivals will battle it out to finish the preseason, as the Las Vegas Raiders head to San Francisco to take on the 49ers. In the final preseason matchup of the summer, both teams are looking to not only get it done on the field but also put the finishing touches on the 53-man roster.

For many playing in this game, especially in the second half, this will be their chance to earn a roster spot for the regular season. Teams have to be at the 53-man mark by 4PM ET on August 31, so there is not a lot of opportunities left for them to stake claim to being on the team when the Baltimore Ravens come to town on September 13.

There are still some exciting battles to watch, especially at wide receiver, and cornerback, two areas that need to be better in 2021. Also, the hope was that Marcus Mariota would get some playing time, as he has been injured for most of the summer, but head coach Jon Gruden has said Nathan Peterman will start, and finish the game.

Raiders vs. 49ers Game Preview

This game is not about going out and getting the win, but more about figuring which players are going to round out the roster. Most of the Raiders starting jobs are already locked down, and we have a good idea who the majority of the 53-man roster will look like, but as we see every year, the Raiders have a tendency of having some surprise cuts when all is said and done.

San Francisco has a big decision to make, as Kyle Shanahan has not announced who his Week 1 starter will be between the veteran Jimmy Garoppolo and rookie Trey Lance. Both men are looking to lead this team in 2021, so the defense is going to get a nice test in this one.

In this one, the 49ers will likely come out victorious, especially with the fact that guys like Josh Jacobs, Derek Carr, and Darren Waller are not playing. It will once again be the Peterman show, and while the Raiders defense should do a good job, the offense will likely sputter, leading to a loss.

Prediction: 49ers 21, Raiders 10