San Francisco 49ers: Five Reasons Why the 49ers Beat the Oakland Raiders

The San Francisco 49ers were able to win their first game of the 2010 NFL season as they beat the Oakland Raiders 17-9 in the Battle of the Bay during their Week 6 matchup.

Their 0-5 start had quickly became a major concern, but they showed some glimpses of promise yesterday that should give the franchise the confidence they need in order to turn their season around.

That said, I've observed various key team elements that have contributed to their strong performance and here are my thoughts on the top five reasons the 49ers beat the Raiders.

Efficient Rushing Attack

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 03: Frank Gore #21 of the San Francisco 49ers against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 3, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The 49ers strength on offense is running the ball, which is why we've constantly heard head coach Mike Singletary preach that he envisions the unit becoming a physical, run-first group. 

Heading into this game, they ranked 30th in the NFL in terms of rushing yards. That being the case, I felt that an efficient ground game was a key to victory.

Apparently, the 49ers thought the same and they executed their gameplan to perfection as Frank Gore amassed 149 rushing yards on 25 carries.

Strong Pass Defense

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SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 14: Nate Clements #22 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates getting an interception against the Denver Broncos during the preseason game on August 14, 2009 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/G

Now that the NFL has quickly transitioned into a quarterback-driven league, its critical for defenses to be able to contain an opponents' aerial attack. Yesterday, the 49ers did exactly that and more.

Due to a strong performance from the secondary and a solid pass rush, they were able to limit Campbell to only 83 yards through the air and a pathetic 10.7 passer rating (no, that's not a typo). 

If they can maintain this level of play, then it'll certainly help them turn around their season. 

Alex Smith

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 03: Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass upfield against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 3, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Call me crazy, but I don't think Alex Smith has gotten the credit he deserve. Or better said, I don't believe he's as bad as people portray him to be.

Sure, he's made several costly mistakes (league high 9 interceptions). However, Smith has also posted an 85+ passer rating for back-to-back weeks now and has led the team to the 15th most passing yards. 

Yesterday, in particular, Smith showed that he can managed the offense effectively as he utilized his weapons and threw two touchdown passes. 

Turnover Battle

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 17: Takeo Spikes #51 of the San Francisco 49ers is congratulated by teammates after he made an interception during their game against the Oakland Raiders at Candlestick Park on October 17, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Phot

It's widely considered that whomever wins the turnover battle, ultimately wins the game.

That principle was evidenced once again as the 49ers were able to force two interceptions which played a huge factor in their victory.

As I referenced to earlier, they were able to harass Campbell all day long and its clear in the stat sheet.

Therefore, the big plays on defense allowed their offense more time on the field and additional opportunities to capitalize on.

On the flip side, taking care of the ball and not allowing a single turnover is rather impressive and helps keep the team's morale high. 

Shut Down Run Game

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 04: Justin Smith #94 and Isaac Sopoaga #90 of the San Francisco 49ers enter the field against the St. Louis Rams during an NFL game on October 4, 2009 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Gett

During preparation, I'm sure that the 49ers expected the Raiders to run the ball effectively just as they had all season long.

Of course, it was up to them to prevent that from happening.

Through active pursuit from their front seven, the 49ers were able to shut down the Raiders to a mere 3.7 yards per carry.

Even though Darren McFadden was ruled inactive with a hamstring injury, this was certainly an impressive performance.