NFL Predictions 2011: Can the San Francisco 49ers Win the Battle of the Bay?

One of the great things about the NFL is the different rivalries that develop throughout a team’s history. The passion and competition between two cities, two teams and two fanbases of football is unequaled by any other sport.

What make the NFL even more unique are the rivalries that go beyond the obvious divisional foes and conference adversaries. In fact, some of the more heated rivalries are those that are purely and simply a matter of geography.

The San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders are neither intra-division nor intra-conference opponents, despite the two franchises being separated by a mere 4.46-mile-long bridge. The Bay Bridge, the icon of the Battle of the Bay, symbolizes the unequivocally intense contrast between two metropolises, San Francisco and Oakland (casually referred to as The City and The Town, respectively).

Not surprisingly, the opposition between and of the two franchises extends beyond just the cities themselves, as each team’s fanbase strikingly dismisses and distances itself from the other.

However, having two teams in such close proximity has given the Bay Area plenty to cheer about. Since the NFL-AFL merger, the two have combined for eight NFL Super Bowl titles and 29 division crowns, along with some of the greatest players and coaches, and most influential owners of all time.

Alas, for most Bay Area residents, two is a crowd—there’s only room enough to truly enjoy one of the teams. None of the Niner Faithful would dare follow the Raiders, and any member of the Black Hole could care less about the 49ers.

Unfortunately for fans of either team, there hasn’t a lot to cheer about the last several years, as each franchise has experienced some of the worst losing in their individual histories.

Since the beginning of the 2003 season, the Raiders have a 37-91 record, while the Niners have gone 46-82—a combined .342 winning percentage. Each team has had a two-win season and a No. 1 overall draft pick. The Raiders have had six different head coaches; the Niners, five. And no playoff appearances.

The mighty have mightily fallen.

As a consequence, to much dismay, the Battle of the Bay has turned into a war of attrition—the resulting victors aren’t really winners, rather only the best of the worst. The result is each team’s fans hating each other not with championship aspirations on the line, but rather good old-fashioned bragging rights: My team is abominably horrible—but at least we beat yours.

But the 2011 editions of the 49ers and Raiders look to have promise, something that has been lacking in both franchises for some time. Each team comes into the upcoming season with a fresh approach, a clean slate and a brand-new head coach ready to embark upon a new era.

San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco plucked new head coach Jim Harbaugh from nearby Stanford because of his NFL wisdom, charisma and experience in turning around a once-maligned football program. After he inherited a 1-11 Cardinal team in 2007, he led them to a BCS bowl game in just his fourth season at the helm.

Harbaugh’s upbringing and tutelage of Heisman candidate quarterback Andrew Luck has led many to wonder if he can mold the disappointing 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick Alex Smith in much the same way.

Above all else, will Harbaugh be able to make Smith into a winner?

Yes, Smith—who is entering his seventh season—has a lot to prove. But by all accounts, Harbaugh has more pressure on him, given that Smith was a likely topic of conversation in his interview for the head coaching position. Smith was a free agent after last season and was re-signed by the Niners once the NFL lockout was lifted, so why would Harbaugh sign on with the intention of bringing Smith back onto the team? He obviously feels he can win with Smith. 

Is Harbaugh smart to have attached his own success to Smith’s? If Smith fails, then Harbaugh will take the brunt of the blame. 

The 49ers have a solid defensive unit that was on the field longer than they would have liked, as the San Francisco offense ranked 24th in average time of possession and 29th in third-down conversions. With Pro Bowl weapons Frank Gore and Vernon Davis on offense, it’s time for the Niners to take advantage of the weak NFC West division. 

That said, for the seventh consecutive season, the fate of the Niners—and potentially Harbaugh—lie in the hands of Smith.

Oakland Raiders

Meanwhile, across the San Francisco Bay, the Oakland Raiders look to set sail on a new era of their own. The 2011 season begins with another head coach, Hue Jackson, along with the departure of their longtime All-Pro stalwart cornerback, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Pro Bowl tight end Zach Miller. 

Coming off a comparatively remarkable 8-8 record in 2010—its first non-losing season since 2002—Oakland is optimistic that a winning season is on the horizon.

Despite a rather run-heavy attack last year, the Raiders look to quarterback Jason Campbell’s second season in the silver and black under the guidance of coach Jackson to balance out the offense. 

Although outgoing coach Tom Cable led a laudable turnaround for Oakland, former Raider offensive coordinator Jackson is ready to take the team to the next level. Hopefully a consistency in play-calling and returning key performers in Darren McFadden, Michael Bush, Marcell Reece, Louis Murphy and Jacoby Ford will allow Campbell to flourish.

The Raiders also have a great defense, one that is led by a strong line and linebacking corps. Though Asomugha has left, new defensive schemes will open up big plays for the Raiders this upcoming season.

The only question will be if the Raiders can score enough points and win enough road games to remain competitive in the tight AFC West.

Conclusion: The Raiders Will Have a Better Record Than the 49ers

Even though the 2011 Battle of the Bay is merely a preseason game, there is much at stake for both the Niners and the Raiders.

And on Saturday, there will be much to prove to the Bay Area's fanbases.

In order for each team to succeed, the quarterback play must be in top form. Though Smith and Campbell are not in the top tier of the NFL elite, each will be called upon to run their respective offenses smoothly and error-free. Minimizing turnovers and managing the clock are instrumental, and any inconsistency will lead fans to call for backup.

Which team will be better on the field?

In preseason, it’s fortunate that it won’t matter; the more important result is at the end of the season—and both the Raiders and Niners look to be the best in the Bay.

For Oakland, they look to earn a winning record and a playoff berth, something that was just slightly out of reach last season. The 49ers, meanwhile, hope to get their ship headed in the right direction. With the NFC West up for grabs, anything is possible—as long as Smith performs consistently throughout the season.

Look for Oakland to finish with a better record than San Francisco, as Jackson will have an edge over Harbaugh in personnel familiarity and structure. Furthermore, Campbell will shine under the guidance of Jackson, while Smith will continue to have bumps and bruises in his underdevelopment.

The Raiders will go 9-7; San Francisco will go 6-10. But if both teams can get on back to their historical winning ways, it could be a great Battle of the Bay throughout 2011.