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Thursday Night Football anticipated a Week 9 matchup of resurgent offenses behind Oakland’s returning head coach, Jon Gruden, and San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo.

Instead, they’ll settle for a draft position battle on the West Coast.

The Raiders and Niners are two of three NFL teams with only a single victory through Week 8, joining the 1-7 New York Giants in that woeful status.

There is something about having the top pick on draft night that energizes a club. Oakland seems to be actively trying to win that honor. They traded away the best player on the team, Khalil Mack, just before opening day.

Last week, they traded arguably their most exciting receiver, Amari Cooper, to the Dallas Cowboys and placed running back Marshawn Lynch on injured reserve.

Speculation that the Raiders could trade more players before Tuesday’s trade deadline did not materialize.

Gruden seems alternatively perplexed and adamant about the Raiders’ plans. To most, those plans don’t include success in 2018.

San Francisco’s season was derailed by season-ending injuries to its starting quarterback and lead running back. Coach Kyle Shanahan is the first to admit his teams’ problems go deeper than that.

The attitude in San Francisco is noticeably brighter, even in a tough season for the Niners’ faithful. Only one of these teams looks likely to resurrect itself quickly.

Injuries and notes

Veteran defensive back Dominick Rodgers-Cromartie announced his retirement.

Offensive tackle TJ Clemmings will join Lynch on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Guard Keleche Osemele ditched his knee brace and is expected to be available.

Cornerbacks Gareon Conley and Daryl Worley are both listed as questionable, as is return specialist Dwayne Harris.

San Francisco limited several players in response to the short week. Coach Kyle Shanahan said quarterback CJ Beathard has a legitimate issue with his wrist. Problems gripping the ball could put third-string passer, Tom Savage, into action.

Matt Breida (ankle) and Raheem Mostert (back) were limited, but both are expected to play.

Coaching matchup

Kyle Shanahan and his GM Mike Lynch continue with the second year of their rebuilding effort. There is little doubt there is a plan and that is better than what 49ers fans could bank on in recent years.

The jury is still out on Gruden as he makes moves only a coach with a ten-year guaranteed contract would make. How fast he turns the situation around in Oakland will either cap or crush his NFL legacy.

How to watch the 49ers-Raiders game

Fox Sports and the NFL Network will broadcast this Thursday Night Football matchup nationwide. That means millions of savvy NFL fans will follow the live stream NFL action on Sling TV.

Sling TV sends the original network feed directly to your favorite internet device in most US markets. Sling, along with other internet television providers like Fubo TV and DirecTV Now, carry all the NFL-contracted networks so you can enjoy live stream NFL football games all season long.

Best of all, it only costs a fraction of what cable and satellite companies charge and without contracts or expensive equipment. Check them out online and see why you should cut the cord and join the internet television revolution.

Read More: NFL Week 10 Game Preview: Chargers at Raiders

Who will win the Raiders-Niners game?

At first glance, this has the potential to be one of the ugliest football games you will ever watch. Injuries and rebuilding do not make for potent offensive (or defensive) rosters.

But crazy things happen on Thursday nights and these players have nothing to lose. Look for a game to break out and expect the only starting quarterback on the field to lead his team to victory.

Phillip Rivers and the Chargers held serve against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, beating back naysayers who complained they never beat teams with winning records.

In a week that Rivers was not at his best, at least statistically, the defense reasserted themselves a legitimate playoff-caliber unit and shut down Russell Wilson.

Through nine weeks, the Chargers have lost only to the Kansas City Chiefs and the crosstown Rams. With a rematch against the Chiefs on tap, LA is still within striking distance of the AFC West title and a home field playoff game.

With the team getting more familiar with each other after injuries to several key players in the first few weeks, there is no reason to think the Chargers are not for real.

Conversely, there is little reason to believe the Raiders are anything but a place card on the Chargers’ schedule.

After mailing in a nationally-telecast effort against the 49ers that let an undrafted rookie quarterback look like his fellow Southern Miss alum, Brett Favre, fans and opponents are wondering if Oakland will compete at all this season.

Coach Jon Gruden faced some tough questions after the game, including why his highest-paid defensive player spent most of the game on the sideline. Gruden responded by cutting Bruce Irvin which won’t do anything to improve morale in his locker room.

Injuries and notes

Irvin signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

Oakland put offensive tackle TJ Clemmings on injured reserve but listed no other players on their injury roster.

Los Angeles suffered no additional injuries in Sunday’s game.

Coaching matchup

Jon Gruden’s grand return is not providing many positive reactions so far. While many old-school fans root for success in an old-school system, Gruden’s assertion in an ESPN interview last week that there are many players who “really want to play” for the Raiders rang hollow.

Whether his current players took that to insinuate they weren’t playing up to snuff or not, the Raiders horrible effort belies some issues bigger than skill sets in Oakland.

Anthony Lynn has no such issues in Los Angeles. The Chargers are a motivated team fighting for respect despite their record. He pushed the narrative that his team can’t beat winning clubs and inspired his club to overcome that charge.

How to watch the Raiders-Chargers game

Fox Sports will broadcast this game locally and in scattered markets, including New York City and Boston, in the second time slot.

Chargers and Raider fans around the area will fire up their favorite internet device and follow the action through DirecTV Now.

DirecTV Now is a leading internet TV provider offering the original FOX broadcast in real time, along with tons of live stream NFL action.

DirecTV Now, along with Sling and Fubo TV, offer all your sports and entertainment needs at a fraction of the cost of cable and satellite.

Plus, there is no expensive equipment required and neither Sling, Fubo, nor DirecTV Now will ever make you sign a contract.

Take advantage of their free trial offers to see why so many people cut the cord with cable and satellite to join the internet TV community.

Read More: NFL Week 11 Game Preview: Raiders at Cardinals

Who will win the Raiders-Chargers game?

We could list all the usual clichés about any given Sunday or why they play the games, but there are many reasons the Raiders are massive underdogs at home.

Los Angeles is a team on a mission. They are not likely to fall into a trap game. Even if they do, there is no reason to expect Oakland to take advantage of it.

Two struggling coaches will face off Sunday as Jon Gruden’s Oakland Raiders head south to take on Steve Wilks’ Arizona Cardinals.

If there is such a thing as a moral victory, last week’s hard-fought loss to the powerful Kansas City Chiefs might lift the spirits of the Cardinals. Josh Rosen and David Johnson couldn’t do much, but it was enough to keep them within striking distance until the end, thanks to the Cardinals’ defense.

Chiefs’ coach Andy Reid reportedly chastised his offense for their performance after the game, which is as high a compliment as the Arizona defense can expect after a loss.

Johnson’s role in the offense shows signs of getting closer to the workhorse role he played before his lost 2017 season. Rosen makes enough big plays to keep fans watching as he works through his rookie mistakes and growing pains.

Things are tougher in Oakland, where another veteran was heard muttering, “I got to get the (heck) out of here” on his way off the field Sunday.

Oakland’s team owner saw fit to give an interview last week in which he said Gruden had nothing to do with the preseason trade of Khalil Mack, which started the brewing of dissension among Raiders’ veterans. But that is not the only reason players are griping in Oakland.

Injuries and notes

Oakland wide receiver Martavis Bryant avoided serious injury to his knee last week, but he is still listed as doubtful for Week 11.

Cardinals’ receiver Chad Williams is questionable with an ankle.

Neither team listed any other significant injuries.

Coaching matchup

Working with a ten-year guaranteed contract isn’t making the situation in Oakland any better for Jon Gruden. His body language and tone shows he is unhappy with the way things are going.

Yet he continues to say things to the press that can be interpreted as calling out or dissing players on his roster. It is a fault that he hasn’t grown out of since his earlier coaching days in Oakland and Tampa Bay.

Steve Wilks had his team up for their battle against Kansas City and that is the first time we can really say that. There is always a reason for optimism with a rookie quarterback on board, but the Cardinals have other young players on both sides of the ball that might keep Wilks coaching longer than many suspected after a slow start.

How to watch the Cardinals-Raiders game

CBS Sports will send this game to local markets in Northern California and Arizona. Fans there would be wise to take it in from the live stream signal of Fubo TV.

Fubo TV offers lots of live stream NFL action, as well as tons of other sports and entertainment venues, as part of a low-cost monthly subscription. Monthly means you will never be locked into a costly contract. Fubo TV doesn’t require expensive equipment, either.

Fubo TV works with just about any internet TV connection or you can watch it on your favorite handheld device or computer. Wherever you are, a Wi-Fi signal is all you need for Fubo TV to send you live stream NFL action.

Fubo TV, like DirecTV Now, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and other internet TV providers, cost just a fraction of what you pay for cable or satellite. You should check out their websites and see why so many of your neighbors have already joined the internet TV revolution.

Read More: NFL Week 15 Game Preview: Raiders at Bengals

Who will win the Cardinals-Raiders game?

Arizona showed a lot of spunk in last week’s loss to the mighty Chiefs. Oakland held the powerful Chargers offense to 20 points, too. But it didn’t feel the same.

Oakland is a team in disarray, while the Cardinals seem to be coming around behind their rookie coach. That matters.