Golden Nuggets: 49ers vs Raiders on Thursday Night Football

Good morning folks, happy Thursday, and I hope everybody’s rotator cuffs are in-tact and healthy after a long evening of passing out candy. Furthermore, I hope everybody’s belts will still fit this morning after inevitably eating too much candy when nobody was looking! The 49ers play the Raiders in what has been described, virtually universally, as the worst matchup in Thursday Night Football history. Tonight’s game features two one-win teams to kick off the second half of the season. Both teams are dealing with crushing disappointment despite high expectations before the season starter.

Although the 49ers are on a down year due to an absurd injury rate, the Raiders are faltering after new coach Jon Gruden’s appraisal of his roster, and subsequent decision to tear it down. It seems like they were set to be a talented team with a shiny new coach, but somewhere along the line, a decision was made to enter slash & burn rebuild mode. These two Bay Area teams were slated to be competitive - in a playoff-bound sense - but now, find themselves competing only for draft positioning.

The 49ers will be without defensive starters Jaquiski Tartt and Reuben Foster tonight, which puts the 49ers defense squarely within “marshmallow” territory, as the team’s enforcers will be in street clothes on the sideline. Furthermore, CJ Beathard is questionable for the game, meaning that Nick Mullens may see some game time. They say that the backup quarterback is always the most popular person in town, and I’ve certainly noticed the occasional “start Mullens” rabble among the community. At this point, I’m at a complete loss as to how Beathard being declared out for the game would be viewed by this community - between the witches brew of homerism, readiness to tank, Beathard love, Beathard hate, and “grass is greener” mentalities, the reaction around here would sure be priceless.

To sum it up, this game is going to be awful, all of our players are hurt, Jon Gruden looks like a fictional murderous doll, and my stomach hurts from too much chocolate. Oh, and with Halloween over, be on the lookout for Christmas music starting today at grocery stores and pharmacies. Mariah Carey must be making a killing on royalties for that one song.

Musings on how bad this game is | Ratto, NBC Sports Bay Area

Final injury report | Maiocco, NBC Sports Bay Area | KNBR Staff | Biderman, Sac Bee | Madson, Ninerswire

Kyle Shanahan on working for John Gruden | Chan, NBC Sports Bay Area

Shanahan discusses keeping the locker room together | KNBR Staff

Shanahan on lack of trade activity at deadline | Montero, KNBR

Midseason Review | Almquist, KNBR

Things to watch in week 9 | Biderman, Sac Bee | Madson, Ninerswire

CJ Beathard questionable for TNF | Wagoner, ESPN