Oakland Raiders: Five potential bellweather games to circle on the calendar

Week Nine @San Francisco 49ers

The game against the San Francisco 49ers is big for a couple of reasons. Not only is this going to be a prime-time Thursday night matchup, this next chapter of the crosstown rivalry is important for bragging rights to the Bay Area since it could actually very well be the final regular season chapter of the crosstown rivalry, given that the Raiders are slated to move within the next season or two.

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If it is indeed the final chapter, ending that bitter crosstown feud with a win – on San Francisco’s home field no less – would be a nice exclamation point on it.

It’s also a key game simply because the 49ers are now being viewed in the same light the Raiders were in two seasons ago. Back then, as Derek Carr led Oakland back to the playoffs, the 49ers were flailing about, one of the worst teams in the league by most every metric.

Last season, once San Francisco traded for and finally installed Jimmy Garoppolo under center – who led them to five straight wins – it’s the 49ers who are viewed as the up and comers, the team poised to perhaps, make a little noise in 2018.

And the Raiders? They’re being viewed by a number of talking heads and various experts as a team that has too many fatal flaws to be a legitimate contender. Flaws, they say, not even Gruden is going to be able to overcome.

The Garoppolo-led 49ers, who have some outstanding playmakers on both sides of the ball will present a tough test for this Raiders squad.

Being able to walk onto the home field and put a beating on the newest up and comer, a team widely considered to be the one on the rise, would give the Raiders a bit of their mojo back. A little bit of their pride, and a nice feather to stick in their cap as they close the book on this rivalry.