Coming into Week 5, the 49ers were still on standby for their first win of the season. And with a game against their bay area rivals -- the Oakland Raiders, both bragging rights and San Francisco's Playoff hopes were on the line. While the 49ers were coming off of a 3-point loss at home to the Vick-less Philadelphia Eagles, the Raiders were fresh off their first defeat of the division rival San Diego Chargers in over seven years. But a different Oakland team would show up on the road, not far from home.
Out of the gates, the Raiders showed an early sense of aggressiveness and trickery by utilizing a flea-flicker on the very first play from scrimmage and a reverse only a drive later. All of this would come while outplaying the 49ers on offense, 14-minutes to 3. Fortunately for the San Francisco defense, they were able to hold the Raider offense to a minimum of two field-goals. As the rain began to fall, so did the players as the game turned into a sloppy penalty-filled affair. OLB Manny Lawson then intercepted a pass from Raiders QB Jason Campbell, as Alex Smith began to do his normal race against the clock. After leading the offense all the way down the field before running out of time, the 49ers would have to settle for a field-goal as the first half concluded with a score of 6-3, Oakland.
After half-time, the 49er offense would begin to show some signs of life. Although it wasn't pretty having compiled over 143 yards worth of penalties, Smith managed to connect for two touchdown passes in the second half, despite letting a lot of opportunities slip past him. Michael Crabtree would be the recipient of the first grab, by hauling in a go-ahead 32-yard TD reception before the end of the 3rd quarter. Then came Smith's favorite target Vernon Davis who sealed the deal on a late 4th quarter touchdown set up by running-back Frank Gore who finished the game with 149 rushing yards. While the 49ers put to rest any thought of going win-less all year long, they also put to rest any hope of Raider fans eying their first back-to-back wins since 2008, by keeping Jason Campbell under 100 yards passing.
Week 7 Preview - One of the biggest factors in the 49ers finally getting a win is the fact that Alex Smith had his first turnover-free game of the season. If Alex Smith and the 49er offense can avoid any confrontation with error for a second straight week in Carolina next Sunday, they should be in line for consecutive wins that will make 49ers owner Jed York's comments of, "We will win the division" look a little more believable.
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