49ers vs Raiders Preseason Game Preview

As the preseason comes to a close, the San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders will face off in their final exhibition game on Friday night at Allegiant Stadium.

With backups expected to play the bulk of the game, this matchup is likely to be a close contest, and the Raiders could have the edge as they look to end their preseason on a high note.

Game Information

• Location: Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, NV
• Date: Friday, 8-23-2024
• Kickoff: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NFL Network

Prediction and Analysis

Raiders’ Quarterback Situation

The Las Vegas Raiders have officially named Gardner Minshew as their starting quarterback for the regular season, but he won’t be suiting up for this preseason finale. Instead, the Raiders will rely on a combination of Carter Bradley and Nathan Peterman under center.

While this duo doesn’t inspire overwhelming confidence, the 49ers are also not expected to play any of their key players, leveling the playing field in a matchup that will be decided by depth.

49ers’ Offensive Struggles

The San Francisco 49ers haven’t exactly been dominant this preseason. With few of their important players seeing action, the team has struggled to pull away from opponents. Two weeks ago, they lost to the Tennessee Titans 17-13, and last week, they narrowly beat the New Orleans Saints 16-10, despite having Brock Purdy on the field for some of the game.

Even with Purdy playing, the 49ers’ offense appeared disjointed, with backup receivers frequently out of position, visibly frustrating Purdy. Backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs, who is expected to start, hasn’t been overly impressive either, completing 26 of 41 passes for 279 yards and an interception this preseason.

Running Back Woes

San Francisco’s running back situation is concerning, with several injuries depleting their depth. Last week, undrafted rookie Cody Schrader started and managed just 2.1 yards per carry, backed by Matt Breida, who has struggled to make an impact since 2019. Expecting this group to put up big numbers against the Raiders’ defense seems unrealistic.

Raiders’ Defensive Depth

The Raiders have some promising young talent on defense that could make a difference in this game. Rookies Decameron Richardson and M.J. Devonshire have shown potential in the secondary, while rookie linebacker Amari Gainer has been a pleasant surprise in the front seven. The defensive line rotation, featuring players like last year’s third-round pick Byron Young, could make things tough for the 49ers’ struggling offense.

Low-Scoring Expectation

Given the issues on offense for both teams, this game is unlikely to be a high-scoring affair. The Raiders’ defense should be able to keep the game within reach, and with Carter Bradley showing competence last week by completing 8 of 13 passes for 56 yards, they might be able to grind out a close win. Rookie running back Dylan Laube will likely be leaned on to help control the clock and move the chains.

Odds and Betting Trends

Opening Odds

• Spread: San Francisco +1.5 | Las Vegas -1.5
• Moneyline: San Francisco +107 | Las Vegas -125
• Over/Under: 38 points

Betting Trend to Know

The Raiders defeated the 49ers 34-7 in the preseason last year, indicating that they have had recent success against San Francisco in these exhibition games.

With both teams likely to rest their starters, this game will be a test of depth, and the Raiders seem better positioned to keep it close—or even pull off a win—thanks to their promising young talent on defense and the solid play of their backups.

While neither team is expected to light up the scoreboard, the Raiders’ edge in defensive depth and the ability to make plays in key moments should allow them to cover the spread and possibly win outright in this preseason finale.