Welp, that’s now 13 straight Ls for the Niners. Sunday’s 41-13 loss to the Falcons rank up there as one of their worst in this disastrous season. The 28-point defeat and the 550 total yards they gave up were both the second-highest they have allowed all year.
Despite all of that, the team may draw inspiration from their 28-0 shutout of the Rams in Week 1, which was also their lone win all season. In the game, Niners’ running attack had 150 yards and three TDs.
In trying to record an elusive second win, Colin Kaepernick, although he’s arguably their best player, has to be better. He has a great 13-3 TD-INT ratio, but he’s only completing 55-percent of his throws for 175.2 YPG.
With the uncertainty in the pass, Carlos Hyde should also step up. The back has 950 yards and six TDs on 4.6 yards per carry this season. He should be in a good position to be productive yet again, with the Rams ranking 20th in run defense.
As for their own D, the Niners are permitting a mid-ranked 248.6 yards through the air and a league-worst 176.2 yards in the ground per game, while allowing 30.2 PPG, which also ranks dead-last in the league.
The Rams started the post-Jeff Fisher era on an ugly note, as they once again showcased an inability to move the ball, one that Todd Gurley called a “middle school offense” a few weeks back. In the 24-3 loss to the Seahawks, the team only garnered 183 total yards.
Gurley shouldn’t talk too much, though. He only has 778 yards on 3.2 yards per carry this season, which is one of the biggest sophomore slumps in recent memory. Although the Niners are the worst in the NFL in stopping RBs, he’s still not projected to have a big game, since he only gained 47 yards on 2.7 yards per carry in their previous meeting.
Rookie QB Jared Goff, meanwhile, who got a baptismal hit from Richard Sherman last Thursday, will be questionable for Week 16. The play-caller is averaging 146.5 YPG and has a 4-5 TD-INT ratio. Case Keenum (220.1 YPG, 9-11 TD-INT ratio) will be stepping in if Goff is unable to play.
The Rams are last in the league in points (14.1 PPG) and have dropped five straight games (0-5 ATS), and in the last four, they are allowing 265.5 passing yards and 120 rushing yards per game.
Writer’s Prediction
The Niners (+4) finally snap their awful losing streak, 21-14.
