49ers must be wary of these sneaky concerns vs. Raiders in Week 17

The Raiders may not be a top-tier opponent for the 49ers this Sunday, yet Kyle Shanahan’s squad still must approach this game with caution.

Sunday’s New Year’s Day contest between the 11-4 San Francisco 49ers and 6-9 Las Vegas Raiders couldn’t pitch two teams in opposite trajectories than what they both find themselves entering Week 17.

On one hand, the NFC West-winning Niners are riding an eight-game win streak that has seen a transition at quarterback but also the emergence of the league’s best defense.

On the other, Las Vegas is also undergoing a transition under center, Derek Carr being benched in favor of Jarrett Stidham, but head coach Josh McDaniels’ squad is essentially playing the spoiler role for the final two games of the regular season before some hard-hitting questions must be asked for the silver and black.

San Francisco has no such questions. And there are reasons why it’s a 9.5-point road favorite, according to WynnBET.

That said, Sunday’s tilt at Allegiant Stadium could easily fall apart for the 49ers and into the Raiders’ favor, provided the Niners don’t pay attention to these under-the-radar concerns.

No. 4 concern 49ers have with Raiders: Jarrett Stidham’s opportunity

San Francisco can’t pretend it won’t understand Stidham’s situation, the unknown backup who suddenly gets a shot at starting.

After all, that’s how rookie Brock Purdy came into the fray after veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a serious foot injury earlier this season.

Stidham is in the starting lineup for entirely different reasons, of course. But, this being Vegas, the 2019 Round 4 draft pick out of Auburn is playing with house money. If the 26-year-old reservist fails against the NFL’s No. 1 scoring defense, it won’t exactly doom his career.

However, if Stidham has a Purdy-like ascent, it’s all bonus money.

And the 49ers can’t afford to let something like that happen in a shocking manner.