The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Monday Night Football. This NFC West battle features two teams at the opposite end of the spectrum in the 7-2 Rams pitted against the last place 3-5 Niners. The Rams are looking to atone for a flat showing on Sunday when they were smacked around by the Henry-less Titans, 28-16, for their second loss of the season. The Niners also lost a two-score game to a team without its best weapon, losing to the Cardinals, 31-17, on Sunday. At 3-5, they need something positive and quick. Finding it against a Rams team looking to make up for a bad week might be a tough spot.
Bounce-Back Week for Rams?
Playing poorly on Sunday really bothered the Rams’ team, with pained expressions on everyone’s face in a game that wasn’t even as close as the score suggested. Two picks from Matthew Stafford, including a pick-six, saw him at his worst since he joined the Rams. I’d look for them to be in atonement mode this week. At 7-2, their situation might be more-urgent than other teams with that record. Their goals are high, therefore a second-place division finish is not what they envision. With the 8-1 Cardinals atop the division pile and with the Rams coming off a loss, I’d expect to see them perhaps shot out of a cannon this week.
San Francisco is eviscerated by injuries. They are too numerous to name, but suffice to say there is not one area that is not affected. Jimmy Garoppolo is banged up again and the “D” they field now is a far cry from their ideal lineup. Against Detroit, Philly, and Chicago, they were able to make it work. But lately, returns are diminishing and unless facing another tattered team, they’ve been out of their element. We’ll see how they hold up against Arizona.
More Picks: Vikings at Chargers Spread Winner
Firepower Disparity
The Rams wield massive defensive playmaking ability. Aaron Donald is a terror up-front. Leonard Floyd is getting after quarterbacks. Four guys already have multiple picks on a disruptive defense that can really turn a game on its head. On the other sideline, they still have guys like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, but a big bulk of their playmaking ability is on the injured list. There is no relief in the firepower department on the other side of the ball. While the Rams have solid QB play from Stafford, a good RB in Darrell Henderson, along with Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, and others, the Niners are reduced to Deebo Samuel, with the occasional spurt from Elijah Mitchell.
- Get more details: LA Rams at San Francisco 49ers 11/15/21 Match-up Stats
Hope for SF?
If the Niners can work their way through some of these personnel setbacks, maybe they can get things pointed more in the right direction. Samuel is a game-breaking talent. George Kittle could start rounding back into shape after coming off the injured list last week. It’s been a while since we’ve seen it, but Garoppolo and these guys have put up big numbers together before and if Mitchell can break through a little bit against a tough Rams’ front and open things up, who knows?
Perhaps the Rams’ performance last week wasn’t a mere aberration or bump in the road. Both Henderson and Stafford are nursing gimpy ankles. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth hurt his knee last game. The easy move to make would be to clear the slate and refer to last week as a quirk, but they wouldn’t be the first team to see their recipe for success suddenly sour. Sometimes a little twist or turn here or there can throw a new light on things. With some key pieces in not ideal health in a typically-tough divisional setting, a case makes it itself for the Niners in the this spot.
