Raiders Vs. 49ers: Dysfunction Collides in Battle of the Bay

It must be terribly sad to be a football fan in Northern California.

The better part of the last decade has provided Bay Area fans with a front-row seat to what "ineptitude" really means, both on and off the field. Now, maybe it hasn't been as bad as Pittsburgh for baseball fans, where the Pirates' entry on Wikipedia shows up second on a search for "worst baseball clubs of the last decade" (go ahead and Google it; it's sad). But losing seasons and dull Januarys have been the status quo in San Francisco and Oakland both since the 2003 season.

This year, all of that was supposed to change. Both teams came out looking like front-runners following the 2010 draft. The 49ers picked up a pair of marquee offensive linemen while the Raiders shrewdly traded for a starting quarterback and linebacker to top off their first solid draft class in ages. San Francisco and Oakland were heralded as teams ready to jump back into the playoffs and Super Bowl contention.

Instead, Oakland has only tallied two wins—one against last year's bottom-feeding St. Louis Rams, and the other to AFC West rival San Diego Chargers. While that puts them one game out of a tie for first place, it's a far cry from the Silver and Black resurgence that was predicted.

The 49ers, meanwhile, have set a new record for shattered expectations. With the rest of the NFC West in disarray, San Francisco was a virtual lock for the playoffs. Their offense includes seven first-round picks and an All-Pro running back, while their defense boasts another four first-rounders, including powerhouse linebacker Patrick Willis.

San Francisco is still looking for their first win.

What is the problem in the Bay Area? How can two teams that look so good on paper tank so badly?

First off, Oakland has a long history of poor choices and lousy chemistry to overcome. As noted in this article about Bruce Gradkowski, the word "bust" has been often associated with Oakland's first-round draft picks. Five head coaches have run the Raiders since 2002, none for more than two full seasons.

Only recently have the Raiders started to turn things around (blatant plug for my earlier article here) with solid trades and drafting.  However, that hasn't seemed to work just yet. Draft-day trade steal Jason Campbell has already found himself on the bench, though he should start this Sunday due to injuries to Gradkowski. And despite drafting Rolando McClain and trading for Kamerion Wimbley, Oakland is sporting an abysmal 147.8 rushing yards allowed per game, 30th in the league.

There have been some bright spots, none more apparent than the Raiders' upset last week against the Chargers. Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has earned a number of fans, and Darren McFadden has finally started to show some of the talent that made him a top draft pick in 2008.

So the Raiders have had some troubles over the years. At least they have some semblance of an excuse for falling flat at times. Despite their issues, Oakland is still just one win away from .500 and is far from out of the running for the playoffs.

The 49ers have no such luxury. The team's 53-man roster features 34 players drafted by the team, and despite a combined 36-72 record since 2003, the 49ers have only had three head coaches during that time.

Instead, a lack of consistency at offensive coordinator has undermined any consistency or genuine development. Following the recent firing of Jimmy Raye, San Francisco is on their eighth coordinator in as many years. For those of you not following along at home, that means that this highly-talented core of players on offense must learn a new coordinator's scheme, playbook and approach every year.

And people want to unilaterally throw quarterback Alex Smith under the bus.

Unfortunately, head coach Mike Singletary hasn't been making things any easier. Already this season, the Hall of Fame linebacker has shown a temper and attitude he once reserved only for the field. While few players can claim his accomplishments and esteem, as a head coach Singletary looks to be in over his head—not understanding his role or his players.

All of this drama comes together tomorrow afternoon. I'm expecting Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton to be in attendance. Britney Spears will probably sing the national anthem.

Both teams are fighting for a lot more than a win this week. For Oakland, it's a chance to show that they really have turned the corner for the better, and all the preseason hype wasn't just a red herring.

For the 49ers, it's a matter of survival. While anything can happen in the crazy world that is the NFC West, San Francisco players are already to the point of playing for pride and a chance to stick around in 2011.

The worst part of all this is that these teams have a rich and robust history. Super Bowl trophies have "49ers" and "Raiders" etched into them. And as much of a "Raider Hater" as I am, I believe a rivalry is that much better when both teams are competing for more than bragging rights, fighting tooth and nail on every down to come out on top.

As for the 49ers...well, I never was a Dallas fan.

Hopefully, both teams can step onto the field today and leave the dysfunction behind. Both these teams are overdue for a heavy dose of respectability.