The 49ers: Gina MurrayThe 49ers will have a better record than the Raiders this year. Yes, I’m still saying this after the Niners lost the pre-season battle of the bay against the Raiders on August 20. I don’t think they will go to the Super bowl or even make the playoffs, however, I just think that they will surpass the Raiders in terms of wins. Now, I really don’t like Trent Dilfer, I think he’s a horrible quarterback, and I’m really mad that we got him this year and got rid of our only good quarterback, Cody Pickett. Alex Smith is the starting quarterback so hopefully Dilfer won’t have to play too much, even though Smith isn’t much better. But Frank Gore as the main running back this year should help out the running game a lot. Kevan Barlow just didn’t have a good year last year, so his trade to the Jets is a good thing. I think Arnaz Battle is the best player the Niners have, so as long as he stays healthy and injury free, he will be a great contributor to their success. This season, the Niners also have wide receiver Antonio Bryant and tight end Vernon Davis on offense, both of whom are great additions to the team.The Raiders record last season was tied with the Niners, 4-12, but this year they will be the bigger losers of the bay. They lost Charles Woodson, didn’t improve their defense, and only brought in rookies to replace who they lost. However, they did bring in Aaron Brooks as quarterback, but he didn’t do anything in New Orleans for the Saints. Not only have they brought in players lacking the ability to lead the team to victory, but the Raiders also brought in a coach that has been out of the league for 12 years (Art Shell). The Niners have worked on their offense and as long as their defense stays healthy and continues to work hard and progress, they have a very good chance at having a better record than the Raiders.

The Raiders: Syed AliThree words…”Just win baby!” That’s always been owner Al Davis’ motto for how his Raiders should carry about their business. Although, the Raiders haven’t won very many games since their Super Bowl season, things have gotten brighter this past off-season. Some people may argue that Al Davis is too “hands on” with the team and that he can be a bit impatient and diabolical sometimes, but at the end of the day, Davis’ goal is to win. First things first, the Raiders fired Norv Turner after two disappointing seasons at the helm. In turn, the Raiders brought back Art Shell, who just so happened to coach the Raiders from 1989 to 2004. Shell hasn’t been in the league for about twelve years, but when he was coaching, he led the Raiders to a 56-41 record and three trips to the postseason. On the offensive side of the ball, the Raiders have arguably the most dynamic player in the NFL…Randy Moss. His name alone speaks for itself. Paired up with Jerry Porter, Ronald Curry and Doug Gabriel, and the Raiders could have the best group of wide receivers in the entire NFL. Also, with a change in offensive scheme, the Raiders hope to utilize running back LaMont Jordan’s strength as a downfield runner. Lastly, the addition of quarterback Aaron Brooks will be the greatest of them all. His predecessor from last season, Kerry Collins, was immobile, inconsistent, and lost his poise. Brooks was inconsistent in his own right, but he has the speed to elude pass rushers and has shown the capability of having big games. On the other hand, the 49ers wish they had as many playmakers as the Raiders. Quarterback Alex Smith has yet to show any glimpse of why he was taken number one overall in last year’s draft. The wide receiver position is questionable, and Frank Gore, who now has the chance to start, is still unproven. On defense, the Raiders got rid of overrated cornerback Charles Woodson and replaced him with last year’s first round pick, Fabian Washington. This year’s draft emphasized defense, with Texas Longhorns playmaker Michael Huff leading the way. The 49ers, on the other hand, were ranked dead last in total defense last season, and didn’t get any better through the off-season by losing Julian Peterson and Andre Carter. When directly compared to one another, the 49ers are nowhere near the Raiders in terms of talent level. Also, the teams in the NFC West got significantly better than the teams in the AFC West did, therefore, giving the 49ers even tougher opponents than last season. In conclusion, the Raiders will have a better year because of their upgrade in talent and having a weaker schedule than last year.