The Oakland Raiders may not feel like they are playing a true road game this week.
Not only it is a short trip for the Raiders when they visit the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, but Oakland could feel right at home in the black hole that is developing on the other side of the Bay Area.
The 49ers (0-5) have been among the league's biggest disappointments (translation: busts) this season, absorbing five defeats in as many games after being touted as the favorite to win the NFC West.
Instead, the Niners are among three winless teams - joining the Carolina Panthers and Buffalo Bills - and find themselves in the odd position of looking up at the Raiders (2-3).
Oakland hasn't exactly set the league afire, but at least the Raiders have something to build upon - a victory. The Raiders ended a 13-game losing streak against San Diego with a surprising 35-27 home victory over the Chargers last weekend.
Aesthetically, it was hardly a five-star performance by Oakland, which blocked two punts that resulted in nine points and returned a fumble for a touchdown in the final minute that sealed the upset win.
Still, the Raiders showed resilience in bouncing back after San Diego had rallied from a 12-0 deficit to take a 24-15 lead early in the third quarter.
Quarterback Jason Campbell, who was benched in Week 2, replaced an ailing Bruce Gradkowski and directed the Raiders to a pair of second-half touchdowns.
Campbell finished 13 of 18 for 159 yards and a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Miller. He got help from another substitute in running back Michael Bush.
Starting in place of an injured Darren McFadden, Bush churned out 104 yards on 26 carries, including the go-ahead touchdown with just over 3 1/3 minutes to play.
Bush will start again this week while Campbell could get the nod after Gradkowski did not practice Wednesday due to his sore shoulder.
There has been speculation that San Francisco coach Mike Singletary could be in danger of losing his job, but that was quelled by team owner Jed York, who went so far as to boldly predict that the 49ers will still win their division.
Singletary appeared close to yanking quarterback Alex Smith after he committed three key turnovers in last week’s 27-24 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Smith responded to terse words from Singletary by leading two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, but he was picked off in the final minute as San Francisco endured its third defeat by three points or fewer.
While Smith threw for 309 yards, running back Frank Gore managed just 52 yards on 18 carries. The Niners likely will look to feed Gore the ball more often against an Oakland defense that ranks next-to-last in the NFL, allowing 147.8 rushing yards per game.