San Francisco 49ers vs. Las Vegas Raiders Preview

What used to be the "battle of the Bay" is now a contest between two teams preparing for the regular season in very different ways.

For the 49ers, the third preseason game represents a chance to fix some of the things that went wrong when Kyle Shanahan elected to put star quarterback Brock Purdy on the field with the backups against the Saints. The result was an ugly performance in which Purdy went 2 for 6 for just 11 yards, and San Francisco looked like anything but the team about to defend its NFC crown.

The Raiders, meanwhile, will be celebrating the Las Vegas return of Minshew Mania after coach Antonio Pierce named Minshew his week one starter against the Chargers in LA. Minshew will have to redeem himself some in the season opener, though, after a 10 for 21 effort that produced just 95 yards passing that made some wonder why Pierce felt compelled to make this decision.

Photo byDaniel ÁlvasdonUnsplash

Game Details

Fixture: San Francisco 49ers @ Las Vegas Raiders

Date and Time: August 23, 2024 @ 10:00 PM EST

Location: Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada

San Francisco 49ers Team Review

For a team coming off a brilliantly successful season in which they got all the way to the Super Bowl and came up a game short of winning the Lombardi Trophy, San Francisco had a curiously unsettled training camp marred by an unnerving combination of injuries and contract hassles.

The main contract hassle, of course, revolves around the status of disgruntled wideout Brandon Aiyuk, a key component of the 49ers versatile attack who doesn't want to play for $14 million a year. He wants a market value of $30 million per, but San Francisco balked at paying that number and instead tried to negotiate a deal with several interested teams. The situation is still up in the air, and it remains to be seen how it will affect San Francisco's season.

The injuries are likely to have just as much of an impact--maybe more. The 49ers had a lot of them, including 23 at one point that forced them to cancel a joint practice with New Orleans. No one knows if or how long they'll linger into the season, but it feels like they'll be a factor going forward.

Las Vegas Raiders Team Review

The Raiders are celebrating--sort of. They just named Gardner Minshew their starter, but he won't see the field against San Fran, and neither will his QB rival, Aidan O'Connell. That means Vegas will be competing against Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert with a guy who defines the word journeyman, but at least they'll have Bo Nix to keep them company in the "questionable quarterback" department.

Who to Watch

San Francisco 49ers

Everybody, given the injuries. Game three of the preseason is a roster cutdown game, so it will be interesting to see if Shanahan throws Purdy to the wolves with the backups again.

If there's a group to watch, it's the wide receivers. New rookie addition Ricky Pearsall hasn't practiced much due to hamstring and shoulder issues, but with Aiyuk's contract status in limbo, the 49ers need someone from the Pearsall, Chris Conley, Juaun Jennings, and Ronnie Bell group to step up and fill the void if San Francisco can't get a deal done with Aiyuk.

Las Vegas Raiders

Now that the Raiders have named Minshew their starter, the spotlight shifts to their offensive line. Kolton Miller is back at tackle after offseason shoulder surgery, but rookie guard Jackson Powers-Johnson has also been out due to a shoulder problem and a concussion. Thayer Monford, the projected starter, has sat due to injuries to both hands.

A leaky offensive line would obviously be bad news for Minshew, but at least he's used to running for his life. Keep an eye on whether these guys can protect the backup QBs and settle in and provide a stable pocket.

Article originally written by Bob McCullough