San Francisco 49ers vs. Oakland Raiders: Live Oakland Score and Analysis

The matchup today between the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers promises to be a good one. This is a storied rivalry between two teams and fanbases that legitimately don't like each other. Records don't matter in games like this. Despite the gap in the standings between the two teams, the Raiders will come out intense and expecting to win.

The most intriguing part of today's game could prove to be the return of Latavius Murray. Over the course of two games and only eight carries, he provided more excitement from the Oakland offense than it had shown all season. He was out last week with a concussion, but he'll be available today. His return should lead to an actual rushing attack, something Oakland has been missing all season.

It'll be interesting to see what Murray can do with the increase in carries. He's not just playing for more touches the rest of this season. Given how bad Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden have been, Murray's playing for the starting role next year.

Of course, it's going to take a lot more than a good game from Murray for the Raiders to come away with a victory. Derek Carr has to find a way to get his wide receivers to be productive, as they do struggle to get open at times. But when they do, Carr has to take advantage of the speed he has at the position.

The defense has to keep Colin Kaepernick contained in the pocket. Despite his success, Kaepernick has shown an inability to make his way through his reads. If the first option isn't open and he can't scramble, he panics and simply holds on to the ball too long. This is why he's been sacked a league-leading 38 times. Good coverage and containment are going to be key.

Keep it here for live scores and updates during today's Battle of the Bay. Kickoff is at 4:25 p.m. ET from O.co Stadium in Oakland. You can share your thoughts on today's game in the comments section below and on Twitter @BrianJ_Flores.
...

About the Author