San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams Prediction: NFC West Rivals Meet for the Second Time This Season

Oh, that is gonna be good (claps fingers, rubs them collectively). San Francisco and Los Angeles going at it once more. The cities named after the sainthood of Francis of Assisi and the Metropolis of Angels. However inform me, if it is a bunch of saints and angels right here, why a lot hate?

Skilled Picks for Each Week 8 NFL Sport

These two Golden Staters simply do not get alongside. Nope. Not after the Rams ended the 49ers’ season final yr and never after the 49ers have crushed the Rams seven straight occasions within the common season. And as Rams defensive sort out Aaron Donald famously stated, “We do not like them. They do not like us.” Yep, it is that straightforward.

These two final confronted off 4 Mondays in the past when the 49ers put a boa constrictor’s grip on the Rams’ offense in a 24-9 squashing. San Francisco harassed and harangued Matthew Stafford because the Rams have been held with no landing and amassed simply 257 yards of offense.

It is broadly identified that the Niners have dominated this sequence within the common season, profitable seven straight matchups vs. the Rams going again 4 years. However the Niners are also coming off a bruising 44-23 loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs that was the marquee sport within the NFL final Sunday. Arrrrgh.

San Francisco (3-4) at Los Angeles (3-3)

Kickoff: Sunday, Oct. 30 at 4:25 p.m. ET
TV: FOX
Stay Stream: fuboTV (Begin your free trial)
Unfold: 49ers -1.5
Tickets: As little as $145 on SITickets.com*

Three Issues to Watch

1. It is Christian McCaffrey’s REAL coming-out social gathering.
Nicely, right here we go. It has been broadly reported that when Rams head coach Sean McVay heard the Niners bought McCaffrey his response was an NSFW, “Oh sh*t, they get one other nice participant.” The Rams have been one of many prime suiters for the dynamic operating again however could not match the 49ers’ supply. And all of us bought just a little appetizer of what the 49er offense could be with the newly acquired McCaffrey as he ran for 38 yards and caught two passes for twenty-four yards towards the Chiefs final week. And that was after learning the Niners playbook for simply two days. Now, he’ll have an entire week of labor below his wheels and shall be able to unleash his full fury on the Rams’ protection. However do not sleep on Jeff Wilson Jr., who nonetheless ran for 54 yards on seven carries vs. the Chiefs after a “dangerous” outing the week earlier than, so do not count on his position to shrivel to nothing.

2. Can the Rams hold Matthew Stafford vertical?
As talked about above, the Niners made Stafford’s Monday night time expertise a dwelling hell after they performed earlier this month. Nick Bosa and Co. sacked Stafford seven occasions that night time. The Niners QB strain price is a powerful 31 %, led by Bosa’s NFL-best seven sacks on the season. Stafford went into the bye week with simply six touchdowns and eight interceptions and an 84.6 passer ranking, all numbers that may very well be so a lot better. This Rams O-line is manufactured from swiss cheese and isn’t a constructive going into this showdown towards the most effective defenses within the league. And this all goes together with the truth that Stafford has been sacked 22 occasions in six video games. Regardless of giving up 529 yards to the Chiefs, the Niners’ protection remains to be third within the NFL giving up simply 295 yards per sport.

3. Ought to the Rams observe the KC playbook?
It goes with out saying that the Rams will not be the Chiefs on the subject of offensive personnel. KC is No. 1 within the NFL at 31.9 factors per sport. The Rams are twenty ninth within the league, averaging a paltry 17.3 factors per sport. However there are some things that the Rams can glean from the Chiefs piling up 535 yards and 44 factors on the 49ers. Kansas Metropolis was particularly efficient with misdirection runs and jet sweeps, getting three touchdowns from Mecole Hardman, who scored all of them whereas getting the ball after operating in movement. You may think about the Rams shall be prepared to make use of Cooper Kupp in a number of methods and hope operating backs Darrell Henderson Jr. and Kyren Williams can discover some lanes to run in and hold the Rams balanced.

Closing Evaluation

In my preview for the final sport between these two 4 Mondays in the past, I talked about San Francisco’s “dormant offense.” And to be truthful, they have been coming off a dreadful 11-10 loss to Denver. However now the offense appears to be like a lot totally different with the addition of McCaffrey, the emergence of Brandon Aiyuk (15 catches, 165 yards within the final two video games), and the operating of Wilson. One thing tells me this shall be a special crew down the stretch.

And that is good as a result of the 49ers are off to their second straight 3-4 begin to a season, however they’re a crew value maintaining a tally of as a darkish horse when January rolls round. The 49ers already beat the Rams as soon as this week in profitable the McCaffrey sweepstakes, now I believe they’re about so as to add insult to harm.

Prediction: 49ers 28, Rams 24

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

*Value as of publication.