After having time to shake off the crushing loss to the Falcons, the 49ers got right back to work.
Last week the Atlanta Falcons set the trap, and the 49ers fell right into it.
After falling to the Falcons (5-9) in Week 15, the 49ers (11-3) try to get back on track Saturday night against the Rams (8-6), who will look to play spoiler against the playoff-bound 49ers.
Before the 49ers can battle it out in Seattle next week, they are tasked with beating a Rams team that has been playing much better since they last met. Last year’s NFC Champions, the Rams are by no means a walk in the park for any team, especially this 49ers team, who has suffered many big injuries of late.
After having time to shake off the crushing loss to the Falcons, the 49ers got right back to work. They must win out if they want to win the division and secure the number-one seed in the NFC. One of the games they must win, is Saturday’s game against the Rams.
Kyle Shanahan expects the previous loss to light a fire under his team:
“You don’t have much time to dwell over it. Like I said after the game, we tip our hats off to Atlanta, but we’ve got to play a lot better on all three phases. Got to play better, got to coach better and you watch the tape and we know we can. It’s just about doing it. Yeah, it was disappointing to lose. There was an opportunity that we had that we missed, and you address that. … We can’t sit and harp on that too long. We correct the mistakes, but we’ve got to go out there and play good football on Saturday.”
Coming into this season, the Rams were viewed as one of the best teams in the league because of their run to the Super Bowl last season. Sputtering out of the gate, the Rams were embarrassed at home in Week 6, losing a lifeless 20-7 game to the 49ers.
The Rams offense is capable of putting up big numbers against almost anyone but has failed to recapture the success of the past two seasons. Quarterback Jared Goff is susceptible to turnovers, the former star running back Todd Gurley is not the same explosive runner he once was, and their offense as a whole has just been flat-out inconsistent this season behind a lackluster offensive line.
So which Rams offense will show up on Saturday?
In Week 6, the 49ers defense made the Rams offense look bad — like really bad. In that game, Goff was 13-24 passing for 78 yards and a fumble, while being sacked four times. I do not expect that same result Saturday, especially with the 49ers defense sputtering.
Last week, Goff injured his thumb in the Rams loss to Dallas but is expected to play against the 49ers. Throwing the fourth-most interceptions (15) in the NFL this season, combined with his recent thumb injury, the Rams game plan Saturday probably won’t feature a whole lot of Goff airing it out, especially against a healthier 49ers defensive backfield. That means the Rams will likely rely on their run game, one area where the 49ers have been vulnerable this season.
49ers Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh had this to say about the Rams rushing attack:
“Their running game, if they can get it going, is still good. I think they do a really good job in their zone schemes. They run a, I call it crunch, it’s like a power without a puller. They run that scheme very well, so they’ve got a really good run game, especially crack toss. They do all that stuff. The jet sweeps. The key to that thing is just making sure that we’re disciplined in our gaps, setting edges, knocking people back, penetrating with our D-Line and making sure that we’re doing a good job keeping the back from being able to press the line of scrimmage so he can roll back and making sure that we’re disciplined on the back side. It’s always a challenge when you play the zone scheme that they’ve got, because they’re so efficient. [Head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] and his offense are so efficient at running it and they’re so good at running it that it’s very important that we’re very disciplined in our fits and making sure that we understand what we’re trying to get done from a schematic standpoint.”
Aside from the run, the Rams may have another way to expose the 49ers defense. Over the past few games, the 49ers defense, especially the safeties and linebackers, have struggled against opposing tight ends. Whether it be Ravens tight end Mark Andrews, Saints tight end Jared Cook, or Falcons tight end Austin Hooper, the 49ers have given up numerous big plays and touchdowns to opposing tight ends, and the Rams have an emerging tight end of their own.
Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has emerged as the teams’ number one tight end, and one of Goff’s new favorite targets, according to his previous three games:
Going up against a 49ers defense that has struggled as of late against tight ends, the Rams may target Higbee more than anyone on Saturday.
After the 49ers spanked the Rams in Week 6, the Rams felt the need to go out and make a big move in order to right the ship. Trading for star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the Rams defense began to step up as the offense continued to be inconsistent.
Throughout this season, opposing teams have double, or even triple-teamed Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald (11 sacks). With opposing teams focusing so much on stopping Donald, it has allowed for more opportunities for linebackers Dante Fowler (9 sacks) and Clay Matthews (8 sacks). Just like the 49ers, the Rams consistent pressure up front has benefitted their secondary. Add Ramsey to that mix, and the Rams defense has been the backbone of the team this season.
Even with the success the Rams defense has had, they still have been blown out numerous times this season, especially lately. Surrendering 55 points in Week 4 to Tampa Bay, 45 points to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in Week 12, and even 44 points to the struggling Cowboys last week, the Rams defense has looked ugly at times, which is why it’s difficult to gauge what Rams team will show up Saturday.
Last week the 49ers offense struggled against the Falcons. Jimmy Garoppolo was bailed out numerous times by George Kittle (13 rec, 134 yds) as the offense came out flat and was out of rhythm all game. This week, the 49ers will likely put an emphasis on getting their ground game going again. Expect to see more Raheem Mostert and Matt Breida, while Garoppolo spreads the ball around to receivers other than Kittle.
Meant to mention: Tevin Coleman hit 500 rushing yards on Sunday, giving #49ers three backs (Coleman, Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert) to hit 500+. That makes it the second time in franchise history that's happened. The other? John Henry Johnson, Hugh McElhenny and Joe Perry in 1954.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) December 19, 2019
Garoppolo had this to say about what differences he’s seen in the Rams defense since he last faced them:
“Well, obviously, some different personnel. Dealing with trades, injuries, whatever it is. They’re playing fast right now, their defense is. They’ve got, obviously up front, [Los Angeles Rams DT] Aaron’s [Donald] unbelievable, but that whole D-Line as a group is very talented. They make it difficult on you. We’ve got to play on time, get the ball out on time and things like that.”
With backup center Ben Garland filling in for Weston Richburg, the change at center could have been one reason as to why the 49ers were out of rhythm last week against Atlanta. The overall success of an offense has a lot to do with the center position. Another week of practice should hopefully smooth things over.
Last week the 49ers were without six starters. This week, they will be getting healthier, just in time for two important games to close out the regular season.
#49ers Kyle Shanahan no injury status vs #LARams on Saturday night:
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) December 19, 2019
OUT
DE Dee Ford
SS Jaquiski Tartt
DT Jullian Taylor
QUESTIONABLE
RG Mike Person
***
Not on injury report and expected to play:
CB Richard Sherman
CB K’Waun Williams
Cornerbacks Richard Sherman and K’Waun Williams will return Saturday against the Rams. Last week, the 49ers secondary struggled without these two, as Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones torched the 49ers secondary.
Unfortunately for the 49ers, they will be without one of their best defensive players Saturday. Jaquiski Tartt will not play, as Marcell Harris will continue to fill in for the Pro Bowl-caliber safety. Tartt’s absence has been felt, as he has been one of the most underrated safeties in the league, and a leader of this defense.
The 49ers defensive line was absolutely dominant this season but has slowed down recently. Snap counts are through the roof for everybody on the defensive line, and it’s starting to take its toll. Without Dee Ford, the 49ers will look to Nick Bosa to provide that pressure off the edge. The 49ers are hoping to have Ford ready for the playoffs, and maybe even for next week’s matchup in Seattle.
The Rams injury report is much shorter than the 49ers.
.@CedarsSinai Injury Report: #LAvsSF
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 19, 2019
Troy Hill ruled out, Greg Zuerlein questionable for Saturday's game.
Pro Bowl alternates
— Taylor Wirth (@WirthTM) December 18, 2019
DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead, Jimmy Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert, Weston Richburg, Joe Staley, Jimmie Ward and Fred Warner.
#49ers DL Arik Armstead on not being voted to the Pro Bowl: “I’m mad.”
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) December 18, 2019
Richard Sherman did a lot of Pro Bowl campaigning for his teammates the past few weeks.
— Taylor Wirth (@WirthTM) December 18, 2019
He thought the number of #49ers selected was “unfortunate” pic.twitter.com/fhdWNCpS6i
Shanahan said there’s an “outside chance” that Kwon Alexander could come back from his pectoral injury late in the playoffs, but he stresses that it’s a very big injury and that it would be a long shot. #soyouresayingtheresachance
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) December 17, 2019
Kwon Alexander told Kendrick Bourne there’s a “high chance” he comes back for the playoffs 👀 pic.twitter.com/XEK9u4WxS4
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) December 19, 2019
A patented D'Angelo Russell runner was followed by a dagger pull-up to finally ice the game.
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