RAIDERS - 49ERS RIVALRY

Sports and Entertainment News - The 49ers playoff hopes hang in the balance after a 19-3 dismantling by the Seattle Seahawks on Thanksgiving, while the Raiders are looking to redeem themselves after a disheartening shutout loss in St. Louis. Both teams are down, but the rivalry is very much alive

The Raiders host the San Francisco 49ers in the Battle of the Bay rivalry

Both teams are down, but the rivalry is very much alive. I think when you come off a game like the loss to St. Louis, to know that you have that opportunity this week, in your stadium, with your fans out there, it certainly gets the Oakland Raiders pumped up. Fans have had this game circled on the calendar since the schedule came out in April and the players recognize its importance to the Raider Nation. Everybody in this area has been waiting for this game for a long time, but there´s a little something extra with this one. This is the Battle of the Bay and you always want to have those bragging rights when next year comes around.

After a full week of practice following the 49ers´ humbling loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers are optimistic things will begin to turn around for their offense. The 49ers´ offense has been lackluster for most of the season. But it took a loss with the offense scoring a season-low three points to the 49ers´ heated rivalry to instill a sense of urgency. The previous three weeks they weren´t playing well, but they were winning, so the heightened sense of urgency to get things fixed just wasn´t there. After that loss, and where the 49ers are in the season right now. With these four games coming up, the urgency is definitely there.