Nov 3, 2026 · 1h 23m
Raiders defense faces a scheme-and-execution test against San Francisco
Raiders Must Fix Defense for 49ers
The matchup exposes whether Las Vegas can repair its run defense, contain misdirection, and create pressure without sacrificing coverage against a fast 49ers offense.
- 1Las Vegas must improve run fits and counter play-action before facing San Francisco’s cohesive, misdirection-heavy offense.
- 2The Raiders need wider receiver production because San Francisco can crowd the middle and limit tight ends and running backs.
- 3Maxx Crosby’s quieter stretch renews questions about defensive design, double teams, and how creatively Las Vegas deploys its best rusher.
Don't miss
The discussion of Maxx Crosby’s reduced impact turns into a broader argument that the Raiders must move him around and design better pressure opportunities.
The brief
The Battle of the Bay arrives with Las Vegas chasing momentum after a comeback over the Jets, but the central question is whether the defense has actually changed.
Levi Edwards joins John Tournour to examine the Raiders’ run-defense failures, vulnerability to play-action and misdirection, and the need for sharper adjustments against San Francisco.
San Francisco’s speed and cohesion could force Las Vegas to choose between controlling the ball and embracing a shootout, while the wide receivers must expand the passing threat.
Sam Monson widens the lens to trade-deadline needs, Lamar Jackson’s contract situation, Houston’s competitiveness, and Denver’s challenge to Kansas City in the AFC West.
The episode closes on defensive risk: more blitzes and movement could unlock pressure, but reckless aggression would isolate Raiders defenders against elite 49ers weapons.
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