National Football League

Candid Cam: 49ers bust into win column by defeating Raiders in Week 6

Published Oct. 16, 2010 11:06 a.m. ET

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This Sunday's edition of the Battle of the Bay is more a battle of busts. The 49ers' Alex Smith and Raiders' Jason Campbell, first-round draft picks in 2005, are the milquetoast starting quarterbacks whose jobs are still to end seven-year playoff droughts.

Before picking a winner along with other Week 6 games let's delve further into the endless quarterback conundrum. Smith and Campbell are the "probable" starting quarterbacks, and doesn't that just define the aimless nature these franchises have endured since 2003.

Is Campbell starting because he just led the Raiders to a breakthrough victory over the San Diego Chargers, or simply because Bruce Gradkowski's shoulder is hurting?

Is Smith in danger of being benched a week after drawing coach Mike Singletary's ire on national television? The way the winless 49ers' ever-nutty season is going, they could stun us once again by sitting Smith either in pregame, at halftime or before he can throw another interception in the final two minutes.

Either way, this is not the career path expected out of two first-round quarterbacks. Are they busts? A harsh word, but they're in their six seasons and they aren't success stories. Traded away after five seasons with the Washington Redskins, Campbell needed only six quarters in a Raiders uniform to lose his job, which he's regained as Gradkowski's body suffers the consequences of reckless abandon.

As for Smith, if he loses this game to the neighborhood rivals and sinks the 49ers further into oblivion, he won't need a new coordinator to save his career. He'll need the rescue crew from that Chilean mine accident. The predictions:

49ers 23, Raiders 21: As monumental a win the Raiders achieved against the staggering Chargers, they simply do not know win streaks. They haven't won two in a row since 2008, and they won't Sunday at Candlestick. The evolution of this season's 49ers would indicate that another disaster awaits, but by the grace of Jed York's text messages, they somehow will find a way to win. Not the NFC West, just this game. Smith can exploit a vulnerable Raiders pass defense (no, he is not Philip Rivers' caliber, but the 49ers do have better weapons). Linebacker Patrick Willis has come under fire, so expect him to stifle the Raiders' all-important rushing game. If anything could swing this in the Raiders' favor, it would be a muffed punt by the 49ers, and that is definitely possible.

Chargers 31, Rams 10: More embarrassing, losing last week to the Lions or the Raiders? They can compare notes. The once-upstart Rams will fall at home to the once-dominant Chargers.

Texans 21, Chiefs 20: Kansas City's defense finally allows over 20 points for the first time this season, and it is just enough to cost the Chiefs a 4-1 start.

Ravens 31, Patriots 27: This matchup very well could happen again, in the AFC Championship Game. New England's defense needs to step up in the next couple months, however.

Saints 31, Bucs 17: New Orleans rebounds from a loss at Arizona by winning at Tampa, where the Steelers posted a 38-13 win in the Bucs' last home game.

Eagles 26, Falcons 24: Just before the Phillies host the Giants in Game 2 of the NLCS across the parking lot, the Eagles will be walking off their field with a huge home win over the Falcons, who's only loss this season also came in the Keystone state.

Giants 23, Lions 17: Unable to build on last week's rout of the Rams, the Lions at least are no longer a pushover.

Seahawks 20, Bears 17: Pete Carroll's first road win as Seahawks coach comes courtesy of a defensive surge.

Dolphins 27, Packers 23: As if Aaron Rodgers' head isn't groggy enough after last week's concussion, this upset is dizzying.

Steelers 20, Browns 10: Heinz Field is not the greatest place for Colt McCoy to make his debut as the Browns quarterbacks.

Jets 33, Broncos 7: The Jets' egos will be a mile high as they leave Denver with a 5-1 record.

Vikings 26, Cowboys 23: Jerry Jones is sticking by Wade Phillips, and the Cowboys are staying put in the loss column. Welcome back to the Metrodome, Randy Moss.

Colts 28, Redskins 24: The Colts win their second road game in four tries, courtesy of Peyton Manning's precision against the league's third-worst pass defense.

Titans 24, Jaguars 21: The Titans step into the "Monday Night Football" spotlight and improve to 3-0 on the road.

Last week: 9-5. Season: 44-32.

Look for Cam Inman's Web-only "Candid Cam" takes whenever there's a breaking sports story, or whenever Cam's got something to say _ in short, just about every day. You can reach Cam at cinman@bayareanewsgroup.com . You can follow him at twitter.com/CamInman .