49ERS (1-13) VS. RAMS (4-10)
SATURDAY, 4:25 P.M. ET, LOS ANGELES MEMORIAL COLISEUM uTV: FOX, DIRECTV 714
Announcers: Chris Myers, Ronde Barber, Jennifer Hale
About the 49ers: The era began with genuine promise when the 49ers opened the season with a 28-0 dismantling of the Rams. It has been all downhill since, so Kelly has to be somewhat excited about another meeting with Los Angeles — the only team San Francisco has beaten all season. The 49ers bring a franchise-record streak of 13 consecutive losses into this NFC West meeting, and the only thing standing in the way of San Francisco hitting rock bottom is the Cleveland Browns. Other than that winless team, the Rams are about the only opponent that appears to give San Francisco any kind of chance.
second chance is probably his last chance in the Bay Area, but he never really had any hope of stimulating an offense devoid of playmakers.
About the Rams: Even though the Rams’ last two games are against two of their weakest opponents of the season and they have a few extra days to prepare for the Niners, the incentive to win isn’t what it used to be. The Rams are in position to get a pretty good draft pick, possibly the best non- QB, if they keep losing. But QB RB and DT who all figure to be big parts of this franchise’s future, probably could use a little momentum going into the offseason, and the players with less-secure futures need to start providing consistent game tape. It’s going to take fresh bodies on the offensive line for Goff to have any kind of long-term success, but it will be intriguing to see how he closes out an otherwise lost first season back in Los Angeles.
Hyde scored two touchdowns in the 49ers’ win against the Rams in Week 1, back when and
were running the offenses, and the 49ers might need another big week from him in the rematch. Donald, who got ejected the last time these teams met, is one of the best interior linemen in football but probably will see plenty of double teams, as usual.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
While there will be plenty of interest in how Goff closes out his rookie season, this could be a good week for another recent first-round pick to break out. Gurley is one of the few opposing runners not to hit the century mark against San Francisco — he was held to 47 in the opener. The Rams offensive line is bad, but the 49ers run defense might be worse.
Months that have passed, and counting, since the 49ers and Rams both won a game in the same week. It last happened in the 2015 season opener, when the Rams upset the Seahawks and then-49ers coach Jim Tomsula won his coaching debut by beating the Minnesota Vikings. Since then, the teams have gone 15-43.
KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Offensive momentum: Neither team has had much of it this season, and the Rams were particularly inept the last time they faced the 49ers. Can either team move the chains and put points on the board?
Unlike last week, interim coach gets time to prepare the team, and he knows this much: Whatever Jeff Fisher, who was fired last week, tried in that loss to San Francisco 14 weeks ago was a disaster.
3. Limit the mistakes: These teams have spent most of 2016 stubbing their toes. Two interceptions were costly in the Rams’ seasonopening loss to San Francisco, and the 49ers’ ability to take care of the ball in that game was a big factor.
Scott Johnson