Sloppy Raiders blasted by 49ers in return to the Bay Area

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Smatterings Sunday of silver and black dispersed throughout the seats at Levi’s Stadium couldn’t help the Las Vegas Raiders win the Battle of the Bay.

The Raiders committed five turnovers and were overrun by the rival San Francisco 49ers en route to a 38-17 loss that punctuated their first regular-season trip to the Bay since their 2020 relocation to Las Vegas. They pulled within 11 points midway through the third quarter, but tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer fumbled away opportunities in San Francisco territory.

The 49ers answered the second fumble with a seven-play, 80-yard scoring drive.

Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins sneaked for a 1-yard touchdown and completed 22 of 32 of passes for 216 yards, a touchdown to Bowers (seven receptions, 111 yards), a pick-six to open the second half and then two fourth-quarter picks. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy completed 17 of 25 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns while adding a 1-yard scoring run.

San Francisco positioned Las Vegas with a 21-10 halftime deficit, turning three possessions into scoring drives methodically and physically. By blending rushes with play-action passes, the Raiders were left off-guard defensively — yielding 1-yard scoring runs from both McCaffrey and Purdy. The two also hooked up for a 12-yard catch and score.

Cousins capped the lone first-half touchdown drive for Las Vegas with a 1-yard run. Kick returner Dylan Laube brought a kickoff into plus territory, preceding a 50-yard field goal from kicker Matt Gay. But Cousins dropped the football after faking a handoff on the opening play of the second half before floating a pass toward wideout Tre Tucker that linebacker Jaden Dugger returned for a score.

Bowers caught a 21-yard scoring strike up the seam for Cousins, but fumbled after safety Treydan Stukes picked off Purdy. Mayer fumbled just before crossing the goal line after the Raiders had forced a turnovers on downs. Purdy punctuated the ensuing possession with a 37-yard touchdown pass to wideout Jordan Watkins.

Cousins was intercepted on the ensuing possession, targeting Tucker in the end zone and again on a fourth down.

Contact Sam Gordon at [email protected]. Follow @BySamGordon on X.