Oakland Raiders: Power Shift In The Bay Area?

The Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers are separated by about 40 miles on the map and before last season quite a bit more than that in the standings. After both teams suffered through the 2010, the San Francisco 49ers experienced a resurgence under head coach Jim Harbaugh.

The former Chicago Bears quarterback took the 49ers from one of the worst teams in the league to being a perennial playoff team and Super Bowl contender. He led the 49ers to three straight NFC Championship games and within five yards of winning the Super Bowl. Since the 49ers resurgence, the Oakland Raiders have struggled but have begun to show signs of progress.

Coming in to 2015, the 49ers appear have taken a dramatic turn for the worst. They parted ways with a coach in Harbaugh that transformed the team and replaced him with a longtime position coach in Jim Tomsula when more qualified candidates were available. They lost their perennial Pro Bowl linebacker in Patrick Willis, his potential replacement in Chris Borland, and another Pro Bowler in defensive end Justin Smith to retirement.

The loss of players is just the tip of the iceberg that the 49ers have crashed into this summer. Legal troubles have plagued some of the team’s stars including Aldon Smith, Ray McDonald, and Ahmad Brooks and have served to further blight the team’s reputation.

Even the move 40 miles south of San Francisco to Santa Clara at the brand spanking new Levi’s Stadium has been penned by many as a poor decision by CEO Jed York and the team’s ownership. The new stadium has filled the teams coffers and lined the pockets of the York family but it has alienated some of the hard-core fan base because of its “corporate” feel.

Some feel that the 49ers have gone from one of the best teams in the NFL to perhaps the third or even fourth best team in their division. The over/under for wins this year according to oddsmakers is 7.5, a total that should see the team miss out on the playoffs for the second straight season.

Much of the shine has also come off young quarterback Colin Kaepernick as he struggled through the 2014 season and failed to lead the team to the playoffs. The blame is obviously not on Kaepernick alone as the team was in crisis from the moment that the Harbaugh to Cleveland trade rumors came about.

The over/under for wins for the Oakland Raiders is not much different from the 49ers (5.5 total) but for vastly different reasons. The Raiders are still a few seasons away from contending according to most experts but are considered a team on the rise.

They have some cornerstone players in Derek Carr and Khalil Mack and after a few good drafts by GM Reggie McKenzie the team looks ready to truly compete for the first time since their 8-8 season in 2011.

The Raiders also hired an experienced head coach in Jack Del Rio who grew up rooting for the Silver and Black and understands the club’s identity. Del Rio’s career record (68-71) does not jump off the page but he is a respected coach with plenty of experience in the NFL both as a coach and player.

For the first time in a long time Oakland Raiders fans have serious reason for optimism and are in the news for all the right reasons unlike their neighbors across the Bay. The shadow of a potential move to Los Angeles or St. Louis hangs above the team but for now things are looking up in the East Bay.

Next: Oakland Raiders: A Run at a Winning Season

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