The Las Vegas Raiders (4-4) are in Santa Clara, California, today for a renewed Battle of the Bay against the San Francisco 49ers (6-1). Kickoff at Levi’s Stadium is 1:25 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, Nov. 8, and the game airs on FOX, according to both teams. It is the Raiders’ first trip to the Bay Area in eight years, per Raiders.com.
The matchup
Las Vegas is back at .500 after snapping a four-game losing streak with a 38-33 win over the New York Jets. A win today would put the Raiders above .500 for the first time since their 3-0 start, News 3 reported. San Francisco comes in rested off its bye week.
The numbers point to a shootout test for the Raiders’ defense. Raiders.com notes that Las Vegas ranks second in the NFL in points scored (221) and quarterback Kirk Cousins is second in the league with 19 touchdown passes, but the defense ranks 31st in points allowed (28.8 per game). The 49ers are top 10 in both scoring offense (28.1 points per game) and total defense, and quarterback Brock Purdy leads the league’s top passers in completion percentage (69.2) and passer rating (110.1). Raiders coach Klint Kubiak summed up the opponent as “top offense in the league, top defense in the league.”
A family reunion on the sidelines
The game pits Kubiak against his younger brother, Klay Kubiak, the 49ers’ offensive coordinator. Klint previously coached under 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, and their father, Gary Kubiak, spent more than a decade working alongside Mike Shanahan in Denver.
Earlier this week the Raiders released wide receiver Cody White, who had eight catches for 112 yards and three touchdowns this season, and activated tight end Carter Runyon from injured reserve. San Francisco leads the all-time series 8-7 and won the last meeting 37-34 in overtime on Jan. 1, 2023.
What it means for locals and visitors
- How to watch: FOX at 1:25 p.m. (FOX5 in Las Vegas). The game also streams on NFL+.
- Allegiant Stadium is quiet: This is a road game, so there is no game-day traffic around the stadium or the I-15/Tropicana area today.
- Watch parties: Expect busy sportsbooks and bars on the Strip and around the valley for the late-morning and early-afternoon NFL slate. Rideshare demand typically picks up after the final whistle around 4:30 p.m.
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