49ers vs. Rams: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More

Riding the strength of two consecutive wins, the San Francisco 49ers hit the road for the Week 6 edition of Monday Night Football for an NFC West encounter with the St. Louis Rams. 

Amid a bevy of distractions, injuries and oft-erratic play, Jim Harbaugh's 49ers rest at 3-2 thanks to a predictably strong run game and a stingy defense that continues to rank among the league's best despite clashes with the potent offenses of Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia.

Things are not as sunny for Jeff Fisher's Rams, a team riding a two-game losing streak with just a single win on the season—which came via a two-point win against another one-win team, Tampa Bay.

As lopsided as that sounds, the Rams have a newfound aerial attack that ranks among the league best and few teams move the ball in that manner well against a strong defense. In other words, Monday is sure to be a typically brutal NFC West showdown.

Trench Warfare

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As seemingly always, the 49ers bread their butter by bruising along on the ground. This year, though, veteran Frank Gore has some company in the form of rookie Carlos Hyde.

To say the one-two punch has been effective does not do the duo justice:

NAME	ATT	YDS	AVG	LONG	20+	TD
Frank Gore	77	365	4.7	28	2	1
Carlos Hyde	34	132	3.9	15	0	2

Really, San Francisco's overall record might read much differently if the two had been given even more looks to begin the season. In a loss to Chicago, Colin Kaepernick attempted 34 passes, while Gore was given just 13 totes and Hyde all of four. In a loss to Arizona, Kaepernick threw it 37 times while Gore got six carries and Hyde just three.

That will not cut it against St. Louis.

The Rams tout the league's No. 1 pass defense with an average of just 192.3 yards per game allowed. It is not entirely exaggerated, either, with matchups against Dallas and Philadelphia already in the books.

In other words, this game will be decided in the trenches, a facet of a larger piece of the rivalry that Harbaugh understands, per the 49ers on Twitter:

The problems for St. Louis begin when the opposition runs the ball consistently. In that regard, Chris Long and the Rams rank No. 29 overall with an average of 152.5 yards allowed per game on the ground. Half of the team's four opponents so far have broken the 150-yard mark.

What this does is keep the ball out of the hands of the Rams offense, which has actually been quite potent as of late. The team ranks among the top 10 in terms of passing yards per game and averages 21.0 points per game thanks to the recent emergence of Austin Davis, who just last week threw for 375 yards and three scores in a loss to Philadelphia.

A battle of wills is set to unfold on prime time, to say the least.

Letdowns and Distractions

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The topic of letdowns is always controversial. But it is worth pointing out that, despite Monday's affair being on prime time and of the divisional status, there is a chance either team may overlook it.

Look at the Rams, a team that must turn around on a short week and battle the defending champs, Seattle.

More importantly, this San Francisco team, mired in controversy, must next travel to Denver for a date with Peyton Manning before a bye week.

The controversy, of course, surrounds Harbaugh himself. FoxSports.com's Jay Glazer recently stated that the situation between the coach and the organization continues to deteriorate and that this year would be the pairing's last hoo-rah:

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According to FOX Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer, Harbaugh will not be back with the 49ers next season "even if they hoist the Lombardi." Glazer originally reported the locker room tension prior to the 49ers' Week 1 win over the Cowboys.

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Obviously this storyline has yet to truly impact the 49ers on the field, but if there is a time for it to rear its ugly head, it would be beneath the bright lights of a prime-time affair in a divisional clash against an opponent that looks to be an easy win.

Even if it winds up not having an impact on the game, fans can expect to hear about the situation for the duration of Monday's contest.

When: Monday, October 13, 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Watch: ESPN

Betting Info: (via Odds Shark)

• Over/Under: 43.5
• Spread: San Francisco (-3.5)

Team Injury Reports

Player	Position	Status
Vernon Davis	TE	Questionable

Player	Position	Status
Zac Stacy	RB	Questionable

Injury info will be updated once released, via ESPN.com.

Prediction

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The Rams have lost five Monday Night Football games in a row, with a sixth surely in tow if the run defense cannot get its act together.

St. Louis has fought hard the past couple of weeks and has certainly not thrown in the towel on the season, but it helps that Davis and his offense have had it easy against miserable defenses. That changes Monday, as not only will Davis make his first serious start on prime time, he will be tasked with overcoming an elite defense in all aspects. 

On the road, expect the 49ers to ride the ground attack to great effect against a struggling unit. As long as Kaepernick avoids turnovers, the drama surrounding the team off the field will be quieted for another week. 

Prediction: 49ers 30, Rams 20

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus (subscription required).