Game Overview ::
By mike johnson >>
- Both teams in this game are dealing with significant injuries to star players – Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel for the 49ers, and Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp for the Rams.
- These injuries seemingly condense usage and create opportunities for others, however, they also bring efficiency concerns for both offenses.
- The 49ers defense is once again a very good unit that is capable of exposing undermanned opponents like the Rams.
- The Los Angeles defense is dealing with some injuries and just gave up 41 points to the Cardinals, but they did not play nearly as badly as the scoreboard would indicate.
How san Francisco Will Try To Win ::
The 49ers offense played three games last season without Deebo Samuel (technically only two, but in the Browns game he was injured in the first quarter). San Francisco scored 17 points in each of those games against the Browns, Vikings, and Bengals – going 0-3 during that stretch. This week, San Francisco will be without Samuel, as well as star running back Christian McCaffrey. While the 49ers still have a lot of talent and an outstanding playcaller, the absence of both of their “movable chess pieces” and most versatile weapons removes a significant chunk of the playbook and limits the way the 49ers stress opposing defenses.
San Francisco has run the ball well behind their very good offensive line in both games so far this season, as running back Jordan Mason has surpassed 100 yards in both games in a featured role replacing Christian McCaffrey. The Rams defense is certainly not a shutdown unit in the running game, so we should expect San Francisco to begin with a “smashmouth” approach and have a reasonable amount of success doing so. The 49ers passing game also moved the ball well against the Vikings last week, but a lack of red zone efficiency, multiple turnovers, and failure to protect Brock Purdy (six Vikings sacks) ultimately did them in.
For this game, we should expect a bit of a cat-and-mouse game between Kyle Shanahan and the Rams defense. The 49ers preferred weapons are clear and they will get them the ball. The Rams are undermanned in this matchup and will be focused on stopping the run and accounting for Aiyuk and Kittle. This sets up a perfect situation for Shanahan to set up some misdirection and play action plays that open up big plays for the “other guys.” Eventually, the 49ers will likely crack them, it may take a bit longer than some are expecting, however. It is also worth noting that the Rams potential offensive struggles should allow the 49ers to not force the issue and on short fields they will be able to simply take their points if they are in uncertain situations.
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