NFL
San Francisco 49ers vs. L.A. Rams
This Sunday will see NFC West rivals the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams battle it out in Santa Clara. The L.A. Rams go into the game as favorites with their 6-0 winning streak against the struggling San Francisco 49ers’ 1-5 record.
In a game which may become very one-sided, the Niners will need to bring their “A” game if they stand a chance of competing with the L.A. Rams. This Sunday will also be the 49ers Alumni Weekend. The Niners will be playing in their throwback inspired uniforms from the 1994 season.
As well as the unveiling of “The Catch” statue and “87” logo in the north end zone in honor of Dwight Clark. Sunday will also see the reunion of the 49ers’ Super Bowl XXIX team.
87 marks the spot of "The Catch"
One of the many ways that Dwight Clark will be honored at this Sunday's Alumni Throwback game ❤️? pic.twitter.com/1LVNneS6N1
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 19, 2018
San Francisco 49ers
The defense will need to step it up to try and shut down the Rams. The L.A. Rams’ offense is ranked first in rushing yards, sixth in passing yards and first in total yards. With the 49ers’ struggling secondary, the game could easily turn into a blowout.
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has come under fire as of late, taking criticism for the defense’s poor performance. The last two games have seen Saleh rotating the cornerbacks throughout the game. What scheme he takes into Sunday’s game will be his most important to date.
The Niners will also need to focus on completing tackles. They saw improvement last week against the Green Bay Packers. However, missed tackles have plagued the defense all season with opponents picking up big gains through the 49ers’ sloppiness.
The defense has been reasonable against the run game, currently ranked 13th. They were effective against the Packers and will hope to continue that trend against L.A. Rams’ Todd Gurley who has rushed for 623 yards this season.
C.J. Beathard had his best performance last week and saw an overall improvement. He has consistently producing reasonable numbers since taking over the offense from the injured Jimmy Garoppolo. He has a quarterback rating of 87.3 and a 64% completion rate. If Beathard comes out firing again, the 49ers have a chance of getting some points on the board.
With Matt Breida as one of the leading rushers in the league this season, Kyle Shanahan will likely continue to utilize him in this week’s matchup, alongside Raheem Mostert and Alfred Morris.
The wide receivers will need to ensure there are no dropped balls this week. This has been one of the weak points so far this season. With several receivers questionable this week, the 49ers will likely struggle in this department should they have to rely on players from further down the depth chart.
Injuries
Dante Pettis is out with a knee injury, while Jimmie Ward is doubtful with a hamstring. Pierre Garçon, Richard Sherman, Trent Taylor, Ahkello Witherspoon, and K’Waun Williams are all questionable.
L.A. Rams
The Rams have been the standout team in the league this season. Quarterback Jared Goff is having a stand out year, with a QB rating of 110.9 and 69.1% completion rate. He has already thrown for 1,928 yards after six games. Goff should have no trouble in picking apart a struggling 49ers secondary and defense in general. Goff has been a smooth operator in the pocket and proved why the L.A. Rams are true Super Bowl contenders this year.
The wide receivers have been performing to a high standard with Robert Woods leading the Rams with 524 yards for an average of 14.6 yards per reception and Brandin Cooks with 505 yards for an average of 18.0 yards per reception. Should Goff find them open, expect some big plays from these two.
The L.A. Rams defense is ranked just behind the 49ers in rushing, coming in at 14th. Their main challenge will come in limiting offensive weapon Matt Breida. He has been struggling with injury over the previous two games but will play this week. The Rams’ run defense stepped it up last week against the Denver Broncos, limiting the Broncos to just 60 rushing yards off 17 attempts.
Injuries
Cooper Kupp is the only player out for the L.A. Rams. Kupp suffered a sprained MCL in last week’s game. This is a loss for the Rams, with Kupp being one of their leading receivers.
Photo Credit
Featured Image courtesy of mgthompson
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