(Getty)
Final Score
49ers 7-3-3-0 — 13
Raiders 3-7-7-7 — 24
Jim Harbaugh’s seat is getting a little warmer in San Francisco. Coming into today, the 49ers were 7-5, but still within striking distance of an NFC playoff spot.
Not as close as these two fans were to each other, but still close enough.
Sunday’s 24-13 loss against the Raiders drops the 49ers to 7-6, Harbaugh’s worst record through 13 games during his 49ers tenure.
San Francisco’s offense struggled once again, scoring just 13 points against a poor Raiders defense. Colin Kaepernick continued to struggle passing, going 18-for-33 for 183 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. The 49ers ran the ball, but didn’t run effectively enough to take advantage and finish drives, unlike the Raiders.
Rookie Derek Carr had his best game as a pro, going 22-for-28 for 254 yards and three touchdowns. Mychal Rivera had a mini-breakout game with seven receptions for 109 yards and a touchdown. Despite the Raiders struggles this season, their first two picks in the 2014 NFL Draft — linebacker Khalil Mack and quarterback Derek Carr — look to be cornerstone-type players that the franchise can help build around in the coming years.
The teams in front of San Francisco all won, which means they’re effectively three games out of the NFC’s final Wild Card spot. The St. Louis Rams are 6-7 just one game behind the 3rd place 49ers, and the 49ers with all divisional games remaining on their schedule may end up finishing in last place in the division by season’s end. It seems like the window has slammed shut.
The irony — and the NFL is filled with irony — is that Harbaugh may end up being the Oakland Raiders head coach next season.
Raiders Outscore 49ers 14-3 in 2nd Half
With 4:09 remaining in the 3rd quarter, Carr found runningback Marcel Reese for a 9-yard touchdown that put the Raiders up 17-13, which ended up being the game’s winning score.
The Raiders would tack on Rivera’s TD in the 4th quarter to officially put the game away.
A Heated Game Saw the Raiders and 49ers Tied at Halftime
At 1-11, the Raiders had nothing to lose and everything to gain, while the 49ers had everything to lose and everything to gain.
The Raiders played with a spark thanks to Carr — who looks good enough where the Raiders will probably use their high-pick in next May’s draft on another position instead of quarterback. The Raiders incorporated everybody on offense, including offensive lineman Donald Penn who scored the first touchdown of his career in the 2nd quarter.
Comments