(My Sportsbook) - Years ago, this would have been an epic battle by the Bay. Instead, it was just one of those games that one team had to win.

The 49ers handed the Oakland Raiders a 34-20 defeat on Sunday to move their record to 2-3 and get out of the basement in the NFC West.

San Francisco had lost two straight coming into the tilt, and while the 49ers' numbers in the game weren't great -- they actually got outgained 370-330 -- they made enough big plays to capture the win, a victory head coach Mike Nolan will take any day.

"It's hard to say where we are at the time, because it's hard to see this early in the season," Nolan said. "I know who we played. We played the Oakland Raiders. They're also struggling with some things. A win is a win in the NFL. They're hard to get."

The Niners' only other victory this season came back on Week 2 against St. Louis, which is 4-1 and alone in first place in the division. Despite the recent skid, Nolan and company found out that playing a team as bad as the Raiders is good for any club.

For example, through four games San Francisco had zero interceptions as a club. Against the Raiders they had four, three by cornerback Walt Harris alone. Running back Frank Gore had been held under 70 yards rushing the last two games. Oakland allowed him to run for 134 yards, and he didn't fumble.

Alex Smith added three touchdown passes in the win despite throwing for just 165 yards. Do you see where this is going?

Bottom line is, against any other team, San Francisco probably would have lost. But like Nolan said, a win is a win.

And it wasn't all stat-padding for San Francisco.

First-round pick Manny Lawson, the 49ers second selection in the opening round, continued to put together a solid rookie campaign at linebacker. Lawson had four tackles and blocked a punt early in the third that led to Smith's six-yard touchdown pass to Arnaz Battle that put his club ahead for good at 14-13.

Speaking of Battle, the Notre Dame product put together an impressive game with two touchdown receptions.

"I don't think we missed the mark in saying that Alex Smith and Frank Gore played well, but so did Arnaz Battle," said Nolan.

ARNAZ READY FOR BATTLE

Battle is looking to emerge as the dependable No. 2 receiver that the 49ers need to take pressure off of Antonio Bryant, who has been limited in production over the past three weeks after starting the season on fire.

Battle's major obstacle isn't depth at the wideout position, but a knee injury that sidelined him for six games last year.

"He's getting treatment. He's doing well," Nolan said of Battle. "He's moving around well. He really is. He's not holding back right now. He's practicing all week. We cut him down a little bit on Friday, but other than that, I think he's doing a very good job."

With backups Taylor Jacobs and Bryan Gilmore not likely to set the world on fire, solid production out of Battle is necessary in order to aide Smith and Bryant.

O-LINE HURTING

Starting offensive tackle Jonas Jennings suffered a wrist injury in the opening series against the Raiders and did not return to the game. Jennings is probable for next week, though he is also suffering from a finger ailment.

"Jonas had a finger issue going into the game and I thought it was his finger the way he had his arm hanging down," Nolan said. "It was his wrist, so he had surgery on his finger this morning. The wrist is just a strain. His finger is not broken, it's a ligament thing."

Nolan is also hoping guard Larry Allen can return for Sunday's game against San Diego before the team heads into its bye.

"There's a chance we could get him this week, but very hopeful we could get him back after the bye week for sure. I would be very disappointed if we do not," said Nolan. "He's a guy that we brought in that played 97 percent of the plays his last two years in Dallas."

Allen's presence will help a club that was twice stopped on 4th-and-1 against the Raiders.

"The vision becomes easier when the hole is bigger, so if you have a guy like Larry, sometimes that's the case, but not always," Nolan said.

Running back Maurice Hicks (shoulder) and Bryant (lip laceration) also suffered minor injuries against the Raiders.

TURNER'S REVENGE

The win was bittersweet for offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who coached the Raiders from 2004-05.

Said Turner after San Francisco's victory: "I am human and I really learned that the team always comes first and this group of guys is really special. But there are personal things, and it feels good, and I'm done now."

NEXT UP: FULL CHARGE AHEAD

The 49ers will play their second home game in a row as they welcome the 3-1 San Diego Chargers to Monster Park.

The Chargers are fresh off a 23-13 win over the defending Super Bowl-champion Pittsburgh Steelers, and are led by the always-explosive LaDainian Tomlinson.

The Niners lead the all-time series, 7-4, including a win over the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX, and had won six straight over San Diego until the Chargers recorded a 20-17 overtime win in 2002.

In Super Bowl XXIX, San Francisco Hall of Fame QB Steve Young hurled a record six touchdown passes -- three to Jerry Rice -- in a 49-26 win.