Pardon the Los Angeles Rams for not buying into the notion that their NFC West rivals are vulnerable.
It seemed that way last season when the Rams came to Levi’s Stadium to face the 49ers, and they exited with a resounding 31-10 defeat on Nov. 15. It turned the 49ers’ season around and was a slap in the face to the Rams, who after the reality check went on to lose to Green Bay before winning five straight en route to the division title.
The Rams haven’t beaten the 49ers at Levi’s since a 39-10 blowout in 2018. C.J. Beathard was the quarterback in place of the injured Jimmy Garoppolo. Only six players on L.A.’s current roster were on that team and two of them, including wide receiver Cooper Kupp, were inactive.
The 49ers swept the Rams in the regular season last year, winning 27-24 in overtime to clinch a playoff berth, only to lose a 10-point fourth-quarter lead with the Super Bowl on the line.
“San Fran plays us tough. They play everybody tough,” quarterback Matthew Stafford told reporters Sunday after the Rams beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-12. “It’s a really good football team. They were in the NFC Championship game last year too.”
While Garoppolo is coming off a rough first start against Denver, he won six straight against the Rams and coach Sean McVay before last year’s title game defeat and has a 35-17 record including the postseason since joining the 49ers in 2017.
“They’ve won a lot of games with his guidance and leadership,” McVay said Monday. “I don’t think it’s like he only plays good games against the Rams and he’s never played good against anybody else.”
The circumstances aren’t as dire as they were last Nov. 15 when the 49ers came in with a 3-5 record, the Rams were 7-2, and coach Kyle Shanahan was contemplating benching Garoppolo in favor of Trey Lance.
But the 49ers through three games haven’t looked of championship caliber and the defending champions are coming to town.
Even with their usual assortment of injuries, the 49ers have a roster capable of contending for a division title and a playoff berth. It’s time to start looking like one.
Here’s a closer look at Monday night’s game as the 49ers look to move past embarrassing losses to Chicago and Denver in Weeks 1 and 3.
GAME ESSENTIALS: Rams (2-1) vs. 49ers (1-2) at Levi’s Stadium, Monday at 5:15 p.m. on ESPN. ODDS: 49ers (-1).
THREE REASONS FOR 49ERS OPTIMISM
Garoppolo, Kittle will be better
The second half of the Denver game was one of the worst we’ve seen from Jimmy G, and he’s had a few stinkers despite his win-loss record. While it may have sounded as if Garoppolo was making excuses afterward about his tired arm and lack of time with the starters through the offseason and the first two games of the regular season, it also happened to be the truth. Kittle, meanwhile had four catches for 28 yards against the Broncos but appeared to get through the game healthy.
Bosa at his peak
The 49ers’ defensive end has four sacks already as well as the respect of his teammates, who consider him an understated leader. And while the first three weeks the 49ers faced quarterbacks who could take evasive action, Stafford is more of a stationary target. Bosa should get him at least once and the attention he’ll receive should free up others to do damage as well. Rookie Drake Jackson had his first sack against Denver.
Defensive accountability
The 49ers’ defense has every reason to roll their eyes at the performance of the 49ers offense through three games. It’s been good enough for an unbeaten record at this point. But there’s none of that going on. In fact, Bosa and middle linebacker Fred Warner pointed to the lack of takeaways against Denver as one of the reasons for their defeat. As good as the 49ers have been on defense, a great team takes the ball away either through interceptions or recovered fumbles. Stafford has been known to put a few passes up for grabs. Cornerbacks Mooney Ward, Emmanuel Moseley and Deommodore Lenoir should have a chance to make plays on the ball and keep Kupp reasonably under control with help from safeties Tashaun Gipson and Talanoa Hufanga.
THREE REASONS FOR 49ERS PESSIMISM
No Trent Williams
The 49ers have two truly great and irreplaceable players on the roster — Bosa and left tackle Trent Williams. And now Trent Williams is out with a high ankle sprain and will miss the Rams game as well as probably road games at Carolina and Atlanta and a Levi’s Stadium date with the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 23. The good news is that Colton McKivitz held up well when Williams was out with an elbow injury in last season’s Week 18 win that put the 49ers in the playoffs. But he’s not anywhere near Williams’ class as either a run blocker or a pass blocker.
Play-calling malaise
Garoppolo’s safety against the Broncos could become the signature play of the season if the 2022 campaign goes awry. But the problem wasn’t just Garoppolo getting happy feet at the end line. With a young interior offensive line, what was coach Kyle Shanahan doing calling a deep shot out of his own end zone and entrusting a quarterback who was clearly off his game and who doesn’t throw deep shots all that well to begin with. Let’s face it: Other than some good first-half work against Seattle, Shanahan has been off his game in terms of play design and execution. It’s long been his strength as a coach, but so far it’s been a weakness.
The injury bug
Maybe this team is simply destined for injuries. They named six captains at the start of the season and at various times have been without three of them — Jimmie Ward, Kittle and Williams. Running back Elijah Mitchell was a significant loss even on a team that has shown it can survive with a revolving door of runners offensively. One of their starting linebackers, Azeez Al-Shaair, is out for two months with an MCL strain. And since this is the 49ers, you know more injuries are on the way. It’s not like Garoppolo has been a model of durability throughout his career and the Rams are coming after him against an offensive line that has some issues at the moment. That’s Brock Purdy warming up in the bullpen.
PROBABLE DIFFERENCE-MAKER: Aaron Donald
Not only one of the best interior defensive tackles in the NFL, but in the history of the NFL, Donald takes aim at an inexperienced interior offensive line of left guard Aaron Banks, center Jake Brendel and rookie right guard Spencer Burford. If Mike Purcell can come unblocked through the middle of the line and pressure Garoppolo for a safety, then what chance do the 49ers have with Donald? In the Rams’ win over Arizona, Donald recorded the 100th sack of his career. “However great you think he is, he’s even greater than that,” McVay said.
