The San Francisco 49ers put 14 names on Thursday's injury report, and a few of them carry real star power. The Raiders listed five. For a team that has rarely caught a break this season, walking into Santa Clara with the healthier roster is a decent place to start.
Health only goes so far, though. Here are the three battles that should decide Sunday.
Maxx Crosby vs. Trent Williams
Nobody keeps a quarterback cleaner than San Francisco. The 49ers have allowed seven sacks all season, the fewest in the NFL, and their 38-year-old left tackle is a big reason why.
Williams, the fourth overall pick back in 2010, owns 12 Pro Bowl selections and earned second-team All-Pro honors last season. He sat out Wednesday's practice for rest and went full on Thursday, so expect the best version
of him.
Crosby needs a game like this. He has three sacks in the last eight games after posting 10 last season, and he is tied with Kwity Paye and Malcolm Koonce for the team lead. Winning a few reps against Williams could finally knock Brock Purdy and his 110.1 passer rating off their rhythm.
The Raiders' offensive line vs. Nick Bosa's return
Bosa hasn't played since Week 2 because of a calf injury, but he was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. His status will be one of the weekend's biggest storylines.
San Francisco has piled up 15 sacks this season, so the pass rush hasn't disappeared. A rested former Defensive Player of the Year would still change how the Raiders draw up their protections. Cousins has seven rushing yards on 20 carries, so he won't scramble his way out of trouble, and the protection has to hold.
Fortunately, the line has quietly become one of the Raiders' strengths. They have allowed 11 sacks, tied for the fourth-fewest in the league, and rarely get credit for it. Holding up against Bosa would be the clearest sign yet that those numbers are no fluke.
The Raiders' shaky pass defense vs. George Kittle
San Francisco's receiver room is basically in the trainer's room, and Kittle could see the ball early and often.
Mike Evans has missed practice all week with rib and Achilles issues, and general manager John Lynch said he is unlikely to play. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said he would be surprised if Deebo Samuel (hamstring) played. Christian Kirk (knee) and running back Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) are banged up, too.
Evans and Samuel have combined for 626 receiving yards and six touchdowns, and that production has to go somewhere. Kittle leads the 49ers with 425 receiving yards and five touchdowns, and he needs 75 more yards to reach 500 for the 10th time in 10 seasons.
The Raiders' secondary offers little reason for confidence. They have allowed 2,006 passing yards, 30th in the NFL, along with 18 touchdown passes. Keeping Kittle short of that 75-yard mark would go a long way toward keeping this one close.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders vs. 49ers: Three key matchups to watch in Sunday's Week 9 game
