By Scooter_McG
The NFC crown and a trip to the Super Bowl is on the line this weekend, and the NFC champion will be from the NFC West this season as the 49ers travel to their home away from home, SoFi Stadium, to take on the division rival Rams for the third time this season.
It's been well documented that the 49ers have the wood over the Rams in recent times, having won all six contests between the two teams over the past three seasons. But there is a big difference between beating a team during the regular season than in the post season. This game will be a different beast.
I went over a lot of the key matchups just a few weeks ago when these two teams played in week 18, and they mostly remain relevant now. By now we all know for the 49ers to win they need to commit to and find success in the running game, while taking away the opposing running game and pressuring their QB. It is also imperative to not beat themselves through silly mistakes. That has been the key to the 49ers turning around their season and getting to this point in the post season.
So I won't go over those again. Instead, here are a couple of other keys I see to deciding this game.
Fast start. The Rams have gotten off to fast starts and big early leads in their past three games, including their week 18 loss to the 49ers. While they still lost that week 18 game, and almost choked the game away again last week against the Bucs, the 49ers don't want to be in a position where they need to chase a lot of points in the second half in such a big game.
Given their recent form it seems likely the Rams will come out firing again this week. So the 49ers will need to come out firing early in all phases of the game to make sure the Rams don't jump out to that big early lead for fourth straight game.
Get the crowd involved. In the week 18 matchup between these two teams, the 49ers fans travelled in force to takeover SoFi Stadium, with more 49er fans in attendance than Rams fans. The crowd noise from the away fans was so loud the Rams were actually forced to go to a silent count on offense during the second half fight back by the 49ers. After the game a number of Rams players and partners commented on how hard and hostile an environment the crowd made it for the Rams in that second half.
All signs are pointing to this game having another strong contingent of 49ers fans, with some sites indicating it could be as high as a 65%-35% split in the 49ers favour. We saw in the last matchup how the support of the 49ers fans can make a difference. It will be up the 49ers team to feed off that energy, and take advantage of the opportunities that crowd energy and noise provides. If they can do that, the crowd will only become a bigger factor throughout the game.
Resilience. That's been the greatest asset of the this 49ers team this season. They've been incredibly resilient and overcome a lot to get where they are. As they say, good teams find ways to win and the 49ers have done just that ever since their embarrassing loss to the Colt McCoy led Cardinals in week 9.
Both of these teams have been NFC champs in recent years - the Rams in 2018 and 49ers in 2019 - so it is unlikely the occasion will be too big for either team. Both teams have been there and know how to win in this environment. But there is nothing better than the confidence that comes from winning high pressure games at the back end of a season.
In that regard it is the 49ers that have built some callouses when it comes to performing under pressure in big games. They've now played three straight must win games that went down to the wire. The Rams on the other hand were never stressed by the Cardinals in the first week of the playoffs, and they very nearly capitulated last week against the Bucs. That experience can prove invaluable the deeper into the playoffs you get and importantly can galvanise a team and give them a sense confidence and calmness that they can win no matter the situation. The 49ers will need to display that confidence and calmness in this one.
This should be a cracking game, I can't wait. Go 49ers!
Hell yea! Let's get cracking!
ReplyDeleteSherman thinks the 49ers are winning 27-17, especially if their defense plays the way they’ve been playing this past 3 weeks.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't surprise me in the least to find out next week Sherman's been coaching our DB's through text in preparation for the Rams.
Razor
DeleteSherman also pointed out all the 9er players that did not play in the seasons final game against the Rams, but should be available to play this Sunday.
And as Scooter pointed out, the Rams almost folded against TB, while the 9ers are "BATTLE TESTED."
If you have purchased tickets to the 9ers VS Rams playoff game, be advised parking at SOFI is running $600 +
ReplyDeleteThe quickest way to get from (LAX) to SoFi Stadium is to take the shuttle, which will cost you $30 - $45 and takes about 8 minutes.
Maiocco reports that Niners' fans are headed from to LA from the East Coast, Canada and Europe.
DeleteA full-fledged invasion!
Run the football and hell pressure are the ingredients needed for another game. Everything else feeds off those two things.
ReplyDeleteDavid Lombardi:
ReplyDeleteWeek 18: 20% of Stubhub ticket sales came from N. Cal. ZIPs
This week: 43%
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_5utWOD33Y
The value of JG continues to grow as Brady decides to retire.
ReplyDeleteLooks like ESPN may have run that story too quickly. But I suspect that will be the outcome given the things he has been saying.
DeleteSo now Big Ben and likely Brady gone. Brees and Rivers last year. Some big holes to fill.
F these prima dona QBs. Back during the draft Rodgers had to stick his nose into the proceedings, become the talk of basically nothing else. Now Brady, shut out of the conference championships, all the talk is is he, isn't he? Good riddance to both of them.
DeleteOk, WTH? Nate Sudfeld activated from PS? Wouldn't normally have 3 QBs active... something happen to either JG or Lance?
ReplyDeleteThey did him a solid so he could pocket the extra paycheck according to Maiocco.
DeleteScooter
ReplyDeleteIt does seem kind of odd, but this is was Matt Maiocco of NBCSportsBayArea.com reported. That "his elevation is not a sign of concern about Garoppolo’s right thumb and that Sudfeld is not expected to be active against the Rams?" So
who knows why?
The 49ers also announced a handful of roster moves ahead of Sunday’s NFC Championship Game. They activated RB Trenton Cannon from injured reserve, waiving WR River Cracraft and elevated linebacker Mark Nzeocha from the PS.
Don't think Al-Shaair will see the field much except subbing for Fred and Greenlaw. What fraction of the defensive snaps do you thing the Niners will play in nickel?
ReplyDelete