April’s draft Maxx Crosby Jersey , perhaps even the first overall selection.Yep, that’s how bad the Raiders and 49ers have been so far. When they meet in Santa Clara, California, on Thursday night, how much of the nation will show interest is problematic. How much the folks by the bay and its environs would care is debatable.The 49ers (1-7) are ranked 31st in the AP Pro32, ahead of only the Raiders (1-6). San Francisco is a 3-point favorite over its neighbor.“We’re looking for more consistency. We’re looking for somebody to step up, not only on game day but during the week,” says Raiders coach Jon Gruden, whose return to his dream job has turned very sour.“We’re still working through who are the best corners, who is the best combination for us in every situation. Hopefully we can settle on it soon.”The Niners would settle for any sort of victory. My goodness Foster Moreau Jersey , they’ve been swept by Arizona, which hasn’t beaten anyone else.At least they have been close in many of their defeats.“It’s something we’ve got to do to get better and get over that hump,” coach Kyle Shanahan says. “It comes down to, you can do a lot of things throughout a game, but when it comes down to the end when we need to close people out and we need some closers to do that. We’ve had some opportunities to do it.”Opportunity knocks this week for …RAIDERS, 20-13KNOCKOUT POOL: KANSAS CITY made it a little closer than we expected, but survived. Next up: how about CHICAGO?No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (plus 1 1-2) at No. 11 SeattleSeahawks getting physical, remain resourceful, should handle this one at home.BEST BET: SEAHAWKS, 27-20No. 7 Pittsburgh (plus 3) at No. 16 BaltimoreSteelers hitting their stride in time for NFL’s best rivalry renewal.UPSET SPECIAL: STEELERS Joey Bosa Jersey , 23-20No. 1 Los Angeles Rams (plus 2) at No. 4 New OrleansSaints will put the Big Hurt on unbeaten Rams in the Big Easy.SAINTS, 36-32No. 17 Atlanta (plus 2) at No. 8 WashingtonStrange line; Redskins should be bigger favorite. What does Las Vegas know?REDSKINS, 21-20No. 10 Houston (plus 2 1-2) at No. 23 DenverAnother strange line; Texans are far better, but altitude a factor here.TEXANS, 28-22No. 25 Tampa Bay (plus 7) at No.6 CarolinaPanthers coming off two impressive victories.PANTHERS, 35-30No. 15 Chicago (minus 8 1-2) at No. 28 BuffaloWonder if Bills will be favored again this season.BEARS, 22-6No. 2 Kansas City (minus 8 1-2) at No. 27 ClevelandKC’s not exactly the team for any new coach to make debut against.CHIEFS, 30-24No. 12 Green Bay (plus 6) at No. 3 New EnglandPackers aren’t scared of anyone. Neither are Patriots.PATRIOTS, 37-27No. 19 Detroit (plus 4) at No. 9 MinnesotaFirst of three straight division tests for Vikings. They’ll barely pass this one.VIKINGS, 27-24No. 21 Tennessee (plus 6 1-2) at No. 18 Dallas Tony Pollard Jersey , Monday nightMan, has Tennessee been a disappointment.COWBOYS, 20-19No. 26 New York Jets (plus 3) at No. 20 MiamiAs usual, New England’s patsies are sinking in AFC East.DOLPHINS, 30-16 NFL-imposed suspension served, Seahawks linebacker Mychal Kendricks will make his return to the football field on Monday night. And the four regular-season contests plus however many playoff games Seattle plays could be the final act of Kendricks’ career.Kendricks, currently scheduled to be sentenced on federal insider trading charges on January 24, could be headed to prison for between two and three years.“Obviously, that’s a thought that stays in the back of your mind but you just take it every day as it is, day by day just like today Noah Fant Jersey ,” Kendricks told reporters on Saturday regarding his looming incarceration. “I’m going to be where my feet are. I’m not going to harp on the past. I’m not going to predict the future. I’m just going to be right where I’m at so take it day by day.”Playing football helps keep Kendricks focused on where his feet are.“This is my escape,” Kendricks said. “Football is everything for me and to have lost that also was very hard. That also was probably the hardest thing, having to walk away from the game that I love from a team that has accepted me. Just wanting to be here and not being able to, hurt.”Kendricks ultimately was suspended eight games after entering his guilty plea to a white-collar crime, two more than the league’s baseline punishment for domestic violence. Through it all, he has obtained clarity regarding who his true friends really are.“The hardest part about this is the situation itself,” Kendricks said. “Understanding the severity, the friends that I’ve lost through — no one truly understands the intricacies and that being said, it’s understandable for people to want to waltz away. Deep down, I’ll never truly know who’s with me or not but I can tell. There’s a shift in energy between those who know me. If they truly do know me Dalton Risner Jersey , then there’s no shift, but it can be a blessing in disguise. Those who aren’t supposed to be in my life won’t be and through hard situations like this, that sifts out.”While that may be, as Kendricks called it, a silver lining, the dark cloud looms.“That part is inevitable and I probably won’t speak on that,” Kendricks said.Kendricks has football to distract him from what would be constant obsession regarding whether he will serve 30 months or 20 months or maybe just one month or maybe no time at all. At a time when some are caught on camera committing violence against others without even being arrested, it’s hard to process Kendricks facing such a lengthy sentence for a situation in which it’s entirely possible that someone preyed on his wealth and naiveté.