The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to get over .500, but they will have to go through a very tough San Francisco 49ers squad that is 6-1 and arguably the best team in football.
It will be a challenge for the Raiders, who have struggled against teams with winning records. Every loss this season has come against a team that is .500 or better. The 49ers will be another test to see if they can take the next step.
The 49ers will be without their top wide receivers, as Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, and Christian Kirk will all miss Sunday's game. So, the Raiders will have to stop star running back Christian McCaffrey and find ways to create turnovers. Let’s look at that and the other keys to victory for Week 9.
Las Vegas Raiders keys to victory in Week 9 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Slow down Christian McCaffrey
Christian McCaffrey has been consistent throughout his career. Whether running the ball or catching passes, he has been an All-Pro talent and pivotal to the Kyle Shanahan offense. Even though he is a bit banged up this week, he should still be a significant factor.
With the Raiders' linebackers struggling in coverage this year, expect a heavy dose of McCaffrey coming out of the backfield. The 49ers have been limiting his carries, with just 84 in seven games, but he is still a big part of the passing game, as he has 42 targets this season.
It will be a tough matchup for the Raiders' linebackers and safeties as well. They will have to be ready to cover the star running back and come downhill and make tackles, or it could be a long day for Las Vegas.
A big day for the Raiders' tight ends
The Raiders could take advantage of a good San Francisco defense by targeting their tight ends. While Fred Warner scans the middle of the field, he has not been asked to play one-on-one coverage this season.
Michael Mayer and Brock Bowers combined for 145 yards last week, and they can feast again against the 49ers. Both players are big parts of this offense, and the Raiders should target both. It could be a game where the Silver and Black depend on the tight ends again, as has been the formula.
If Klint Kubiak can find ways to get the ball to these players, it could be a big game for the offense.
Blitz Brock Purdy
49ers Brock Purdy has become one of the most successful Mr. Irrelevants ever. He's a consistent top-ten quarterback in the NFL and can easily pick apart the Raiders.
One area that can slow him down is the blitz. While his overall numbers against the Blitz are some of the best in the league, his pressure-to-sack ratio doubles against the blitz. The Falcons thrived in this area, which helped them upset the 49ers.
Rob Leonard will have to duplicate this game plan to help the Raiders achieve success. Las Vegas has struggled to generate pressure, and this could be the game to turn it up.
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