Ahhhhh, it is laborious to beat a Monday evening sport between two rivals and that’s what we’ve obtained right here with an occidental showdown of the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers.

NFL Predictions for Each Recreation in Week 4

Actually there isn’t a love between SoCal and NoCal, particularly after the Rams ended the Niners’ season this previous January within the NFC Championship Recreation with a come-from-behind 20-17 win in SoFi Stadium. The Niners led 17-7 going into the fourth quarter till the Rams posted a landing and two discipline targets to ship themselves to the Tremendous Bowl, which they might win.

This time across the Rams are up to now the one workforce within the NFC West with a successful document (2-1) and are coming off a powerful 20-12 clampdown of the Cardinals, the place they held Kyler Murray in verify and didn’t let him run wild. The Niners (1-2) are coming off an unorthodox 11-10 loss on “Sunday Evening Soccer” to the Denver Broncos, a sport they actually may’ve and perhaps even ought to’ve gained.

Monday Evening Soccer: Los Angeles (2-1) at San Francisco (1-2)

Kickoff: Monday, Oct. 3 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Dwell Stream: fuboTV (Begin your free trial)
Unfold: 49ers -1.5
Tickets: As little as $82 on SITickets.com* 

Three Issues to Watch

1. San Francisco’s dormant offense
The 49ers went 75 yards in six performs on their second drive at Denver final Sunday evening. They solely totaled 81 yards within the second half alone, struggling two fumbles, an interception, and a self-induced security to finish three of their final seven possessions. On prime of that, the Broncos had been capable of management the clock because the Niners had the ball for simply 25:31 of the sport. It didn’t assist that San Francisco went a putrid 1-for-10 on third down too. Extending drives and grinding down that Rams protection are going to be paramount to the Niners’ hopes of re-cranking the offense and pulling a W. Nevertheless it stays to be seen if Jimmy Garappolo and his cohorts can transfer the ball persistently. Clearly, getting the ball within the fingers of Deebo Samuel might be enormous (simply 5 catches vs. the Broncos). Having tight finish George Kittle again for a second week after lacking the primary two video games on account of harm might be a giant boon as properly. Kittle obtained simply 4 catches for 28 yards final week, however ought to be focused extra on this sport as he reaches his consolation zone. And control RB Jeff Wilson Jr., who has run for 159 speeding yards during the last two video games. If Wilson and a depleted 49ers O-line can set up a operating risk it’s going to go a great distance in kick-starting head coach Kyle Shanahan’s assault.

2. Rams’ stress D
As you may’ve heard NBC’s Cris Collinsworth level out within the Denver sport, San Francisco’s inside offensive linemen – heart Jake Brendel and guards Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford – mixed for simply 11 snaps all final season (Burford being a rookie). Add to that, All-Professional left deal with Trent Williams was injured in opposition to the Broncos and can miss a number of video games, so you possibly can see why the goal on Garappolo’s again will get even greater when going up in opposition to this Rams go rush. After being sacked 4 occasions final week, Garoppolo might be underneath much more stress on Monday evening with Aaron Donald, Bobby Wagner and Co. coming off a sport the place they obtained Kyler Murray out of his consolation zone and saved him annoyed all afternoon lengthy. Additionally, that matchup of Samuel vs. Jalen Ramsey ought to be a factor of magnificence. Since struggling in Week 1 in opposition to Stefon Diggs and the Payments, Ramsey has been focused 12 occasions and allowed simply 5 catches.

3. Are we headed for a boring, drab Monday evening defensive wrestle?
Whereas the Niners did an excellent job defensively in opposition to Russell Wilson and the Broncos, holding them to 261 yards on the evening and a mind-boggling 10 drives that resulted in three-and-outs, the Niners’ offense was for probably the most half punchless, as famous above. The protection ranks third within the NFL by giving up simply 12.3 factors per sport. However after all, the Rams are available well-armed with Matthew Stafford beginning to warmth up. After throwing 5 picks within the first two video games, he hit on 73 % of his passes in opposition to Arizona whereas averaging an efficient 9.96 yards per try. 5 Rams receivers noticed three or extra targets final week, together with huge receiver Ben Skowronek (4 rec., 66 yds.), in addition to tight ends Tyler Higbee (4, 61) and Kendall Blanton (1, 28). Anytime this offense will get manufacturing within the passing sport from somebody apart from Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson, it often results in good issues.

Closing Evaluation

Outdoors of the NFC Championship Recreation loss, San Francisco has dominated the sequence with Los Angeles not too long ago, successful all six regular-season conferences during the last three years. And these had been largely tight video games, with 4 of the six video games determined by a single rating. The best way these two defenses performed final week, we’ll most likely be heading for an additional low-scoring, down-to-the-wire end. If Stafford can keep away from serving up some turnovers on a silver platter, I see the Rams escaping this Golden State divisional battle by a wafer-thin margin.

I am sensing numerous discipline targets and punts right here. Dang. The place’s Howard Cosell after we want him?

Prediction: Rams 16, 49ers 13

— Written by Eric Sorenson, who’s a part of the Athlon Contributor Community. He’s a university soccer, school baseball and school hockey addict… and author. Comply with him on Twitter @Stitch_Head.

*Worth as of publication.