Rivalry week is upon us and the upstart "Big Brother" Rams come into Levi's Staduim looking for revenge against their "Little Brother" for their Week 5 meltdown at SoFi. The Rams come into this game with advantages on both sides of the ball but not on Special Teams, where the 49ers rank near the top, while the Rams rank near the bottom. McVay has swapped out his kicker and long snapper this week in an attempt to shore it up. The 49ers special teams has contributed to wins for the 49ers and they just might do it again in this game with the emergence of BRob at kick returner last week.
Offensively the 49ers cannot afford to get into a shootout. They need their offensive line to set the tone early on the ground and dominate the time of possession. Pair that with an explosive play or two and they'll give themselves a chance. Look for Kittle to be heavily involved downfield in that endeavor.
Defensively the game within the game will come down to how much Bethune has learned since replacing Fred Warner. Will Stafford abuse him or can he up his game in coverage, because he's been a tackling machine against the run. Their defensive line could see a new face this week as the "Hulk" will see his first activation this year in an attempt to bolster the depth with week 5's hero, Alfred Collins' availability in question. I've got the Rams winning this game 27-20 but I hope like hell I'm wrong. Go Niners!
49ers inactives:
QB Brock Purdy DT Alfred Collins WR Ricky Pearsall RB Jordan James OL Connor Colby DT Sebastian Valdez S Marques Sigle
If I were a betting man I would take the Rams, but I am not so I am taking the Niners 23 - 21. In my case optimism overrules experience.
ReplyDeleteDitto
DeleteI am a betting man but I seldom bet against my 9ers. I think the Rams -6 is giving away money but I was wrong last time and hopefully I will be wrong again.
DeleteI was with you but I was way off last time so I had a small amount of hope but alas I was wrong... by the way when did Jennings become a bad blocker too?
DeleteFor me, I'll enjoy this season for what it is, a hopefull playoff team that is an early exit.Brock, Pearsall and Aiyuk arent fixing this defense. So on to the draft.
My head says Rams, but my heart says 9ers..Shut up head. fixed it!
ReplyDeleteI've got the Rams in this game. Since their week 5 loss against the 49ers they have improved. Stafford is playing at a high level and Nokua is a hand full. I expect Huff, Bethune, and Lenoir to play a huge part in this game to slow down the Rams balanced offense. If they can this the game can stay close and give the 49ers a chance to eek out a win.
ReplyDeleteThis is the game the offensive line has to take over. I'm excited to see if that's their mindset.
ReplyDeleteLet's see if KS commits to the run- and if McVay loads the box.... will also be curious to see if Watkins gets more of DR's snaps
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DeleteI very much expect the Rams to play the run hard and try and force the 49ers to throw. I also think they'll come into this one expecting the 49ers to try and beat them with short passes like last time and will sit on those. While it will be important to again keep running even if it isn't overly successful, I see this one being reliant on Mac hitting a few shot plays early while there are opportunities, and try and force them to play more honestly on the back end.
ReplyDeleteI will be missing the game due to an event. I think we will win a close one.... maybe the fan in me hoping for this, but hear me out:
ReplyDelete1) Stafford has been lights out and playing at an MVP level and all that with a bad back. But I think this is the game where he at least throws one INT....looking at Demo and Stout to get it. The crowd noise should play into this.
2) KS will exploit the LBs for Rams and will be a mismatch for our TEs. I think Watkins and Kittle will be a factor today.
3) Oline getting reinforcements should make run game better.
4) Special Teams might just give us the edge against the Rams ST which is league worst.
A few good results for the 49ers playoff hopes today with Vikings and Panthers losing, but the Giants capitulating at the end to lose to the Bears is annoying.
ReplyDeleteThe Niners are a team, and an organization, that have given up on this season. Let's talk about next year's draft, which always is this blog's fall-to wont.
ReplyDeleteDolt
DeleteNothing surprising so far
ReplyDeleteI sure didn't like Brady saying that Stafford was "toying" with the defense. Hopefully, the 49ers can wake up from they're slumber or it's going to embarrassingly ugly.
ReplyDeleteThe O actually played pretty well. The D was horrible the first 3 possessions. The injuries have finally caught up with them
ReplyDeleteExcept for the 2 dropped passes by Jennings, one of which was a fumble.
DeleteThe first defensive series of the 2nd half will be key if the 9ers want to get back into this game
ReplyDeleteWe’re back in it.
DeleteNot if the D keeps playing like they did in that first drive
DeleteYea, we just can’t stop the, primarily because of no pass rush. It is what it is. We can beat most teams with our offense but not the Ram this time.
DeletePretty much as I expected. Was always going to be very tough for the D to keep it low scoring with all the injuries. Only way to make it a game was if the offense could keep up, but that's not easy without a running game.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I kinda envisioned a game like this with the 49ers on the losing end. Seattle won big and now the Rams big win today.
ReplyDeleteThe last game of the season against Seattle may decide if the 49ers make the postseason. They must get 4 more wins to have a short. It's not over until it's over. I ain't heard no bell, yet.
It is looking like the main rival for the final wildcard spot will be the 3rd place team in the North (currently the Bears).
DeleteAt the start of the season I predicted the 49ers to win 10-11 games this year. And my prediction was predicated with all key players on the field. Now, the fact that they still may have a chance at the post season after losing many of those players speaks volumes of the great job Shanahan and the coaching staff has done thus far. Just 4 more wins and let the chips fall where they may.
DeleteThey've well exceeded my expectations in the early part of the season. The injuries will definitely make it difficult from here, but the schedule means they still have a shot. We'll see!
DeleteAlso, in addition to that last game against Seattle, I would say the week 17 game against the Bears could prove decisive.
Delete*shot*
ReplyDeleteWhat's up, 49Reasons to hate?
ReplyDeleteThe team is missing some major pieces on the defense, but that doesn't excuse the poor tackling, miscommunications and running around like the Keystone cops. It was, imo, a poor performance by professional players.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the defense let the absences be an excuse for bad performance for sure. Lots of silly errors, miscommunication and poor tackling. In saying that, the Rams are an incredibly tough matchup and were on a mission.
DeleteThe main positive for me was that the offense was pretty effective. Moved the ball consistently. Got in a hole early largely because of Jennings (drop on 3rd down on first drive, fumble second). Better execution and I think they could have had a shot at keeping pace for most of the game.
Scooter,
DeleteLook at the first play "drop on 3rd down" over again. I have looked at it numerous times and have come to believe that it is PI
Yeah, I thought it should have been called too. But can't rely on the refs. Jennings still had a shot at it.
DeleteFootball comes down to a battle of attrition. The Rams had better foot soldiers in this one.
ReplyDeleteDoes Purdy come back when he's ready or do we ride the hot hand of Mac Jones? Purdy's return will no doubt involve shaking off the rust and it could cost us games. We are at a point where we really need to win the next 4 games and the Bears game. The defense is playing so poorly, that the offense has to win the games for us. I'm not sure we have the leeway to go with Brock if the goal is to get into the playoffs. I understand there are other considerations given the huge contract as well as commitment that he is our franchise QB. But he's not at full strength and is unlikely to be for at least the first few games after he gets back. Given this current situation, I can see why Sherman says to ride with the hot hand.
ReplyDeleteI stay with the hot hand and that's MJ. Purdy is much better because of his escapability from the pocket. But, one misplaced step or weight falling on his injured toe sends him back to square one and potentially finishes his season. At this point in the season, I would shut him down going forward.
DeleteThis is Purdy's team, I wouldn't bring him back till he is 100 percent. The problem isn't the offense it's the defense no need to rush him back.
DeleteDoes anyone have an idea for why Nick Martin is not getting on the field? Is he just not as good as Robinson or Giffords? Is he having difficulty picking up the schemes? Bad attitude? I have complete trust in Johnny Holland and Robert Saleh to develop young LBs but it just seems to me with the way the D is playing that Martin should be seeing at least a little time.
ReplyDeleteIf the coaches don't believe Martin is ready then he should not be rushed, imho, Coach. I can't speak for the other reasons you noted.
ReplyDelete