Rams vs 49ers: last call for the rebirth of San Francisco

Week 10 of the 2021 NFL Season brings with it a divisional duel between the Rams and 49ers to kill or be killed. San Francisco, in local condition, will do everything possible to stay alive in the NFC West, and for this they will want to take advantage of the fact that they are experts in defeating the HC of Los Angeles, Sean McVay, who will try to prevent his team from being escape the divisional leadership that currently belongs to the Cardinals. Who will prevail? Here we tell you.

Rams and 49ers: kill or be killed in NFC West

Rams and 49ers will surely give us a great show on the next Monday Night Football when they meet at Levi’s Stadium at 7:15 p.m. Central Mexico, however, both teams arrive with two totally different realities: Los Angeles ( 7-2), despite being evidenced last week against Tennessee, start as clear favorites against the 49ers (3-5) who face their last call to stay alive in the NFC West.

The outlook for San Francisco, to be honest, looks too complicated. Not only have they lost 5 of their last 6 games, but QB Jimmy Garoppolo with each passing week shows that he is not the solution this franchise needs; his cycle must have ended long ago. However, HC Kyle Shanahan is refusing to give rookie Trey Lance a well deserved opportunity as this team’s starting quarterback. And why deserved?

In seven games Jimmy G has started this year, he didn’t even break the 190-yard mark in three of them; a real fiasco. In addition, in the last four meetings of the team he accumulates 4 TD and 4 INT; very poor figures. It’s Trey Lance time in San Francisco and the only one who doesn’t want to see him is Shanahan.

So far, of the five quarterbacks taken in the first round in the Class of 2020, Lance is the only one who hasn’t been named a starter on his team, and every extra snap he keeps seeing from the bench is one more that will take to put on. at the height of Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields and Mac Jones.

However, although the quarterback dilemma is one of the main ones, it is not the only reason why the San Francisco campaign is slowly losing steam. His defense is the second worst in the NFL in the field of interceptions, having only accumulated 2, and the only one who is doing everything to stand out individually, and it is not surprising, is DE Nick Bosa, who has 7 total sacks. ; alone, more than a third of the total team this 2021.

In addition, if that were not enough, San Francisco this year has not been able to avoid remaining a true hospital for injuries. They currently have ten players on the Injured Reserve, including five who will be missing all year: RB Raheem Mostert, CB Jason Verrett, DT Javon Kinlaw, OT Justin Skule, and, the latest confirmed that it is certainly a big casualty: RT Mike McGlinchey.

However, a glimmer of hope is opening up for the 49ers: Despite the quarterbacks’ dilemma, injuries and a losing streak they are going through, games against the Rams have generally been good for them lately. Or is it Los Angeles who don’t know how to play against San Francisco?

Can Sean McVay eradicate ghosts from the past?

It’s time for HC Sean McVay to take one of the few steps he still needs to be an elite head coach in the NFL: knowing how to play against the 49ers. San Francisco has won four straight games against Los Angeles, which equates to the longest streak for either team since the 49ers won 5 in a row between 2008 and 2010. In fact, since McVay became HC of the Rams In 2017, only one other team has managed to beat him back-to-back games, and it was the Eagles between 2017 and 2018.

In addition, another fact that is extremely interesting is that, going back to the 2020 NFL Season, the 49ers carry an absurd 1-11 streak in games at Levi’s Stadium, however, that single victory came right against the Rams, for 16-24 in Week 6 of last season.

One of the keys that will surely define this meeting will be the performance that QB Matthew Stafford manages to give, who last week against the Titans was sacked 5 times, his most sacks allowed since a 20-0 loss to Carolina this year. past (when he was still playing for the Lions). In fact, Stafford is an alarming 3-16 as a professional when he allows 5+ sacks, so the Rams’ offensive line must, yes or yes, protect its quarterback.

Can Los Angeles avoid losing for the fifth consecutive time to San Francisco? For this, the lethal weapon will be WR Cooper Kupp, who in a dream season accumulates 74 receptions for 1,019 total yards and 10 TDs so far this year, leading the NFL in all previous categories. Although if we talk about wide receivers, the 49ers have Deebo Samuel, who is second in total yards (882), just behind Kupp.

However, here is a key point. Unlike the 49ers, the Rams’ secondary and defense does produce: with 12 interceptions it is the second best in the league, and in the sacks category, with 28, they lead the NFL. Therefore, this will be a great duel, both in coverage and mobility, to see what Jimmy G has left in the tank, maybe, if he succumbs in an ugly way, Shanahan wakes up and admits that he must close this cycle, but, if Garoppolo If he gets out there, maybe he’ll earn a license to stay as the owner for the rest of the year.

Ultimately, a victory for the Rams would mean staying home to the Cardinals (8-1) who currently lead NFC West, and would also create more cushion on a Seahawks who just got their QB Russell Wilson back. For their part, for the 49ers, coming out with a win would be synonymous with remaining in the fight for a playoff ticket as a Wild Card, because, although it sounds hard to believe, the Falcons currently occupy seventh place in the National Conference with a mediocre 4-4 mark.

Will McVay be able to beat an opponent that is so difficult for him? Do Shanahan and Garoppolo have their days numbered in San Francisco? We read you in the comments below this article and on our social networks.

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