Rams vs. 49ers Game Preview

Steve Spagnuolo is ultra conservative but I still do not expect him to run onto the field Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers waving a white flag, however one way or another the St. Louis Rams 2011 season will come to a merciful ending. The San Francisco 49ers pounded out a 26-0 win against the Rams just four weeks ago and will look to put another beat down on the Rams. A victory over the Rams would give San Francisco a first-round bye in the NFC Playoffs.

The 49ers absolutely dominated the first matchup only allowing the Rams to gain 157 total yards and ten first downs. The 49ers defense was smothering. The Rams went into the game with AJ Feeley at quarterback. The 49ers held Feeley to a 58.1 QB rating while sacking him four times and intercepting him once. On the ground Steven Jackson was held to 19 yards on 10 carries while Josh McDaniels was criticized for his approach in this game. The 49ers were able to hold the ball for 36:04 of the game.

While many talk about the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints and for good reason, the 49ers should also be in the discussion. Common sense says the 49ers can't score with the big boys but they do average 23 points per game, and would they have to score that much with their top ranked defense? Alex Smith known for managing the game as they say is 10th in QB rating and at times looks similar to a former Super Bowl Champion Trent Dilfer. Dilfer managed a 34-7 victory in Super Bowl XXXV over the New York Giants.

The Rams will once again go with Kellen Clemens at QB and face another tough matchup. The Rams have been shutout twice in their last four games, scoring a total of only 26 points in those contest. The Rams now face the #1 scoring and rushing defense in the NFL in the 49ers. The 49ers want that bye week and they will come to town on a mission to get just that.

The Rams show no signs of ever changing their game plan under head coach Steve Spagnuolo. Weather Pat Shurmer or Josh McDaniels is calling the plays they smell of Spagnuolo's conservative approach. The Rams will try to run the ball with Steven Jackson, throw short passes and punt a lot. The Rams are so bad on offense that they are -207 in point differential and trail the Chiefs by 39 points for 31st in scoring. In the year of high scoring offense the Rams are setting records for futility.

The Rams have at least never folded during a game and they now only have one left so I look for them to at least show up again but there is no way they should win this game. This game means a lot to the 49ers. The 49ers are already in the playoffs and may overlook the Rams but not with Jim Harbaugh as the coach. I look for the 49ers to come out early grab a lead and add to it as the game goes along. Rams fans should spend most of the game looking at the scoreboard hoping for an Indianapolis Colts victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Prediction San Francisco 49ers 23 - St. Louis Rams 7

By Stlvinnie - http://www.stlouisramfan.com/

Rams vs. 49ers Game Preview

The key to the St. Louis Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers game today is Jim Harbaugh. The 49ers are 9-2 and will win the NFC West and the biggest reason is Jim Harbaugh. The 49ers signed Jim Harbaugh to take over this year for Mike Singletary who was released after going 18-22 as the 49ers tough nosed inexperienced head coach.

Jim knows football. Harbaugh played 15 seasons in the NFL and was a college head coach for seven years at San Diego and Stanford where he had a combined record of 58-27. Everyone waited for the 49ers to take on the persona of Mike Singletary but instead they have taken to Jim's football philosophy much quicker.

Jim Harbaugh is about hard nosed, smart NFL football. For those that love stats the 49ers have allowed more yards than they have gained and have even been sacked more than they collected so how are the 49ers so successful and 9-2? The 49ers are efficient and know how to win and they learned that from Jim Harbaugh. The 49ers control the clock, are +16 in turnover differential and pressure the other team physically and mentally just like Jim would do it.

This is yet another terrible match up for the Rams. The 49ers are first overall in scoring and rushing defense while the Rams are 31st in scoring and 21st in rushing. The 49ers will pound at the Rams 32nd ranked rushing defense with Al Gore and Kendall Hunter. The Rams continually make stars of backup running backs like Kendall Hunter and today will be no exception. With DT Justin Bannan most likely out today the 49ers will attack the interior of the Rams because they know they can and under the leadership of Harbaugh will make sure you no about it.

With Sam Bradford still suffering from an ankle injury Jay Feeley will most likely start for the Rams today. The 49ers will attack Feeley from the outside with Justin Smith and Aldon Smith off the edge. In the middle of the field NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis will be head hunting Rams receivers and running backs. The Rams who never seem to have much of a plan will try to attack with Steven Jackson who will most likely not find much room behind the Rams patchwork offensive line. Through the air the Rams will continually go to Brandon Lloyd who will probably be covered by Carlos Rogers who leads the 49ers with 5 interceptions.

It all goes back to efficiency. The 49ers are 26th in yardage but 9th in points. The 49ers will impose their will on the Rams all afternoon. Hopefully Rams fans will finally see the difference coaching can make and why we will need to clean house after the 2011 season.

Prediction San Francisco 49ers 20 - St. Louis Rams 3

By Stlvinnie - http://www.stlouisramfan.com