The San Francisco 49ers will host the Las Vegas Raiders at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, November 8, looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season with a 6-1 record atop the NFC and help returning on both defense and offense. The Week 9 matchup, kicking off at 1:25 p.m. PT, also marks the team’s annual Salute to Service game honoring active-duty service members, veterans and military families, with Bay Area rock band Starship scheduled to perform at halftime, 49ers.com reported.
San Francisco returns from its Week 8 bye following a 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7, the team’s first defeat of the season. The 49ers remain atop both the NFC and NFC West standings and aim to secure their seventh win against a Raiders squad that enters at 4-4 under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak.
Defense Gets Bosa and Buckner Back After Bye
The bye week provided extra recovery time for several 49ers, and the team will welcome back defensive lineman Nick Bosa, who missed five games, and DeForest Buckner, acquired in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts ahead of the deadline. Buckner returns to the franchise where he began his NFL career, 49ers.com reported.
On offense, quarterback Brock Purdy has connected on 69.2 percent of his passes this season, the third-highest completion percentage in the NFL. Running back Christian McCaffrey returned to full participation Friday after dealing with a hamstring strain in the Week 7 loss in Atlanta. Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who has been on Injured Reserve since Week 2 with an ankle injury, is listed as questionable, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday the team will most likely activate him ahead of Sunday’s game.
Klint Kubiak Faces Brother Klay in Bay Area Return
The Raiders make their first visit to The Bay since leaving in 2020, and Klint Kubiak will face his brother, 49ers offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, for the first time in this rivalry. Las Vegas quarterback Kirk Cousins has thrown for 2,124 yards this season, while running back Ashton Jeanty leads the Raiders’ rushing attack with 337 yards and tight end Brock Bowers has recorded 41 receptions for 547 yards, according to 49ers.com.
Defensive end Maxx Crosby has recorded three sacks this season and figures to pressure the 49ers’ offensive line. The Raiders average 27.6 points per game, while San Francisco enters averaging 28.1.
Salute to Service Celebrations Span Pregame to Halftime
Sunday’s game serves as the 49ers’ annual Salute to Service event, part of the NFL’s year-round initiative honoring service members, veterans and their families. The Marine Corps 3rd Aircraft Wing Band from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar will perform pregame, while the United States Air Force Singing Sergeants will sing the national anthem. Active-duty military members will unfurl a full-field American flag at Levi’s Stadium.
Salute to those who serve 🫡 Adam Butler is our Salute to Service nominee, recognized for his unwavering commitment to honoring service members, veterans, and military families throughout the community. Vote here: https://t.co/BslXFBLGDP pic.twitter.com/M8oONws4Ds
The celebration also recognizes 49ers special teams coordinator Brant Boyer, named the team’s 2026 Salute to Service Award nominee. Fans can purchase Salute to Service merchandise at the 49ers Team Store and online, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the NFL’s Salute to Service partner organizations, 49ers.com reported.
Series History Favors 49ers in 16th Meeting
The teams will meet for the 16th time in the regular season, with San Francisco holding an 8-7 all-time advantage and having won the last two matchups, including a 37-34 overtime victory in Las Vegas on January 1, 2023. Sunday marks the Raiders’ first regular-season visit to Levi’s Stadium since 2018; the teams last met in Santa Clara on November 1, 2018, when the 49ers won 34-3.
Starship Headlines Halftime Show
Starship, led by singer Mickey Thomas, will perform “We Built This City” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” at halftime, with special military dedications between songs. The 49ers will also feature Salute to Service-themed graphics throughout the game as they welcome fans back to Levi’s Stadium for the first time since Week 6.
Whether the 49ers defense can halt Crosby and the Raiders’ offense remains the question as San Francisco looks to rebound from its first loss of the season.
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