The San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in their first divisional matchup. The 49ers are coming off a loss to the Minnesota Vikings, 23-17, while the Rams are coming off a divisional loss to the Arizona Cardinals, 41-10. Both teams are dealing with injuries this season. If the 49ers want to go 1-0 in the division and 2-1 overall, they must stick to this week's Keys to Victory.
Feed Mason
The Rams are ranked 31st against the run, allowing an average of 197 yards per game. A big part of that is due to their linebackers. In Week 1, the Rams' defense allowed the Detroit Lions to rush for 163 yards, and in Week 2, they allowed the Cardinals to rush for 231 yards. Jordan Mason is the second-leading rusher in the NFL with 267 yards in two games. If the 49ers feed Mason the ball, they will likely secure a 2-1 record.
Efficiency
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy leads the league in passing yards with 550 after the first two weeks of football. Purdy needs to return to slow, methodical, efficient drives that result in touchdowns. Expect Purdy to get back to progressing through his reads and attacking the field both laterally and vertically.
With the Rams banged up in the secondary, expect Purdy to target tight end George Kittle—if he plays—and wide receiver Jauan Jennings in the middle of the field. The 49ers should aim to get into a passing rhythm early and never look back.
Limit the Mistakes
The 49ers made two critical mistakes on special teams last week: they allowed a blocked punt and a muffed punt in the same game against the Vikings. Additionally, the defense allowed its biggest explosive play of the season, giving up a 97-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Justin Jefferson. The team also needs to address its penalties. Although they committed four penalties last week, the impact was significant.
Third Down Deficiency
Make no mistake, the 49ers have struggled on both offensive and defensive third downs. In Week 1 against the Jets, the 49ers offense went 6 for 13 on third downs (46%). The defense allowed the Jets to complete 60% (6 of 10) of their third downs. In Week 2, the 49ers offense was 2 for 10 (20%), while the defense allowed the Vikings to convert 7 of 12 (58%).
The 49ers must improve on third downs on both sides of the ball. Luckily for them, the Rams went 2 for 11 (18%) on third downs in Week 2 against the Cardinals, so the 49ers have an opportunity to build third-down confidence in this game.
Beware of the Screen Pass
If the 49ers play coverage well in this game, expect quarterback Matthew Stafford to get the ball to his playmaker, running back Kyren Williams, using screen passes. Although this hasn't been a major part of Stafford's game this season, the Rams' offense will look different without his playmakers down the field. The 49ers must remain alert and ready for the screen pass at all costs. Stafford is 4 of 6 (66.7%) on screen passes for only 12 yards this season.
One weakness of the San Francisco 49ers has been their ability to locate and stop significant gains on screen passes. If the 49ers can limit gains on screen passes, Stafford will be forced to push the ball downfield, which could lead to a big day for the secondary.
In conclusion, if the 49ers bring their A-game, they should have no problem against the 0-2 Rams. A victory in LA can help the 49ers establish early dominance in the season. If they stick to the Keys to Victory, they will go to 1-0 in the division while the Rams fall to 0-2 in the NFC West. Winning the division is crucial for securing a playoff spot.
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Written by:Wayne Breezie is a 49ers content creator. He had his first guest appearance on Ronbosports in 2012. He began writing for a Facebook group called the League of the 49ers. Next, he began writing for Nothing But Niners in 2017. In 2018, Wayne Breezie made his debut on YouTube’s Nothing But Niners show. In 2019, he started his podcast called Nitty Gritty Niners. After putting the pen down for several years, Breezie saw an opportunity to write for 49erscap.com. His first published article was in January of 2022 with 49ersCap, and he currently writes and produces weekly podcasts.
