I really don’t mind the Oakland Raiders. I never have. I like them even. What’s not to like about a team that always is propelled upwards and then gets completely gutted each and every time.

And yes, I’m talking about the Raiders, not another team we all know.

The San Francisco 49ers have the Raiders next. On Thursday Night Football. I’m scared. Not because it’s the Raiders, but because the 49ers need a win, and I’m wondering how torn I’ll be at the end of the night. Do I get the win I want? Or the loss to improve draft positioning?

The 49ers will win if...

C.J. Beathard can actually pull the trigger. I don’t have much confidence in that Raiders defense right now and neither should you. Beathard’s biggest problem has been his inability to trust his receivers. He’ll hold the ball and not release when the receiver can become open. It’s a skill even Steve Young had to learn as he developed—you have to trust your receivers. Beathard has his receivers running the right route but he won’t throw it. Instead he holds onto the ball.

This game isn’t the running game. If Beathard can get rid of the ball, the 49ers will win against the Raiders.

And for the love of God if he can’t at least break 200 yards passing ... Sheesh.

The 49ers will lose if...

They can’t take advantage of the Raiders offensive line issues. The Raiders have zero run game and even worse pass protection. The 49ers defense played a pretty good game last week, up until the last four minutes when they decided to call it a day. This line is even worse and should allow ample sacks for all. Now that the Raiders have offloaded Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys, the defense has less to worry about with the pass catchers.

If the defense can’t take care of business and hold quarterback Derek Carr down, they won’t win. Because we know all about how the 49ers like to collapse in the final minutes of a game. Even a game against one of the worst teams in the league. Defense needs to keep the Raiders from scoring and get offense needs a nice cushion available for the fourth quarter comebacks everyone has become accustomed to.

Basically, the 49ers need a lead early and then they can sweat out if the collapse allows the Raiders enough time to overcome the point deficit.

This is the world we live in.