St. Louis Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers: Complete Week 9 Preview
It's time to preview the upcoming matchup between the St. Louis Rams (2-5) and the San Francisco 49ers (4-3).
These two NFC West rivals met during a prime-time showdown in Week 6 that resulted in a 31-17 victory for the 49ers—though the game was much closer than the score indicates—and it's now time for the rematch.
The deflated Rams are coming off their worst game of the season—a 34-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs—and the team is desperate to get back on track. Unfortunately, the 49ers are a difficult team to overcome, so the Rams are in real danger of digging themselves into an even deeper hole.
In fact, with the 49ers, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers up next for St. Louis in that order, the game in San Francisco is probably the Rams' best shot at a win until they finally catch a break in Week 13 against the Oakland Raiders.
Anything is possible. The Rams were able to secure a surprise Week 7 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, and that's evidence St. Louis is capable of winning games if it simply cuts back on mistakes and brings its best game possible.
This article will preview the upcoming game with the latest headlines, injury report and analysis on the key matchups.
Kickoff is at 4:05 p.m. ET and will air on Fox. Also, be sure to return on game day for our live blog, which will provide commentary and analysis throughout the game.
Week 8 Recap
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St. Louis' 34-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs was easily one of its most thorough and embarrassing defeats all season.
The Rams got the game started on a positive note. On the opening drive, quarterback Austin Davis marched the offense down field for over 60 yards in six plays for a touchdown—resulting in an easy 7-0 lead.
It appeared for a moment that Chiefs were in for a rude awakening, but unfortunately, that opening drive was the only real positive from the game. Kansas City woke up, and the Rams rolled over and played dead.
The Chiefs opened up the second half with a kick return touchdown, and that completely sucked the life out of the Rams and drastically altered the momentum.
Jamaal Charles slaughtered the Rams for over 100 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, including a beautiful 36-yard run in the fourth quarter that basically killed any hope of a St. Louis comeback.
The run game was not the only factor working in Kansas City's favor. Quarterback Alex Smith had just four incompletions in 29 attempts and threw for 223 yards. Injuries forced the Rams to start three rookies at cornerback for this game, so Smith certainly managed to take advantage.
Turnovers, needless penalties, blown assignments and dreadful pass protection were things that defined this game for St. Louis.
For the sake of their fans, the Rams desperately need a refreshing victory, and they need it soon.
News and Notes
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Rams Lose Two Key Pieces on Offense
Not only did the Chiefs hand the Rams a humiliating loss, but they also managed to injure two of St. Louis' key offensive players—wide receiver Brian Quick and tackle Jake Long.
According to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com, Quick left the game with a shoulder injury, and Long tore his ACL for the second time in under a year. Both players were moved to injured reserve and are done for the 2014 season.
Quick—the No. 33 overall draft pick in 2012—was on pace for a breakout year and has been St. Louis' top receiver this season. He posted career-high numbers in yards, catches and touchdowns in less than seven games this year.
Long struggled at his left tackle position for most of the season, but he was still a leader on the field. The injury certainly puts his career in jeopardy, but it gives St. Louis a chance to get No. 2 overall draft pick Greg Robinson some valuable reps on the blind side.
These two injuries will be difficult for the Rams to overcome.
Safety Mark Barron Is the Latest Addition to St. Louis' Defense
The biggest headline for St. Louis this week was undoubtedly the team's trade for safety Mark Barron of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Rams traded their fourth- and sixth-round draft picks in 2015 for Barron, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
During the 2012 draft, Barron was the No. 7 overall pick out of Alabama. He has a reputation as a hard hitter and a beast in run support, but he's unfortunately less impressive in coverage.
Barron is undeniably talented and was likely traded due to being a poor scheme fit in Tampa Bay's defense, but it's unclear when he'll be ready to contribute for the Rams.
Expect Barron to see the field this Sunday, but his snaps will likely be limited until he fully grasps the defensive playbook.
If Barron can live up to his top-10 draft-pick hype, he'll be an excellent long-term investment for St. Louis. However, don't expect this to be a move that salvages the 2014 season.
Rams Sign WR Damian Williams
Barron was the big pickup for the Rams this week, but the team also made a less flashy addition with the signing of wide receiver Damian Williams, per Wagoner of ESPN.com.
Williams was presumably brought in to replace the injured Quick. He spent four seasons with the Tennessee Titans and began the 2014 season with the Miami Dolphins.
His best season came in 2011, when he secured 592 yards and five touchdowns in 13 starts.
It will take time for Williams to get up to speed, but the Rams are hoping he'll be a valuable addition.
Injury Report
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The following injury report is from the official website of the St. Louis Rams. Be sure to check the injury report on game day for a more up-to-date list.
Injury Report
C Tim Barnes (Shoulder): Full Participation
WR Kenny Britt (Hip): Full Participation
S Cody Davis (Concussion): Did Not Participate
DT Aaron Donald (Shoulder): Did Not Participate
LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (Toe): Limited Participation
DE William Hayes (Foot): Full Participation
CB Janoris Jenkins (Knee): Did Not Participate
CB Trumaine Johnson (Knee): Full Participation
CB Lamarcus Joyner (Hip): Full Participation
S Rodney McLeod (Knee): Limited Participation
CB Marcus Roberson (Ankle): Full Participation
T Rodger Saffold (Shoulder): Did Not Participate
C Scott Wells (Elbow): Full Participation
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X-Factors and Matchups
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Colin Kaepernick vs. Rams Secondary
During the Week 6 matchup between these two teams, Colin Kaepernick managed to post a career-high 343 passing yards.
The secondary has been a problem for the Rams this season. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 70.4 percent of their passes against the St. Louis secondary—the highest completion percentage in the NFL.
As mentioned in the previous slide, starting cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson are still banged up. If both players are held out, the Rams will once again be forced to start three rookies at cornerback.
The Rams faced the same dilemma last week against Kansas City, and Smith managed to complete over 86 percent of his passes in that game.
If the Rams finally catch a break and the two veteran cornerbacks are ready to play this Sunday, it will be a huge boost for the defense. If not, expect Kaepernick to carve up the secondary and approach career-high numbers once again.
Get Tre Mason More Touches
Rookie third-round pick Tre Mason saw NFL action for the first time against the 49ers in Week 6, where the running back amassed 40 yards on just five carries, while also adding a 12-yard reception that set up a touchdown.
A week later, Mason rushed for 85 yards and a score against a tough Seattle defense. And last week, he had 32 rushing yards on just seven carries against Kansas City.
Since his Week 6 debut, Mason is averaging just 10 touches per game, and there's no excuse for that. The rookie has made the most of his carries, and he needs more.
Mason is averaging over five yards a carry this season and all three of his games came against talented defensive fronts. He has been one of the few positives for the Rams in recent weeks, but the team is not capitalizing on his production.
The Rams need to make a conscious effort to get Mason at least 25 touches this Sunday.
Can Austin Davis Show Resilience?
Austin Davis has had some very impressive moments this season, especially for a quarterback who was an undrafted rookie just two years ago, but he has also been guilty of some poor decisions that have forced fans to question his status as a potential long-term answer.
The young quarterback is going through some growing pains, but Sunday's game will be a major test.
Davis was under intense pressure against Kansas City and was sacked seven times in what was clearly his worst game of the season. As a result, the upcoming game will tell us a lot about his mental toughness and his ability to fight back.
Will Davis show the resilience of a true leader and come back with a great performance in San Francisco? Or, will he fold under the pressure and remind us all why he went undrafted in 2012?
Prediction
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The Rams are usually a different team against their NFC West rivals, but the players are surely beginning to feel the sense of hopelessness lingering in the air at Rams Park. As a result, it's hard to picture this team piecing together an inspiring effort this Sunday.
The 49ers have won three of their last four, and the one loss was on the road against the powerful Denver Broncos. San Francisco is rolling, and it's unlikely the Rams can do anything about it.
St. Louis is utterly incapable of playing a consistent game. At times, the Rams will thrive in the first half. Sometimes it's the second half, and other times it's just one quarter. But we have yet to see this team play an excellent game for four quarters.
Since Jim Harbaugh took over the 49ers in 2011, San Francisco has been a perennial playoff contender, and the Rams have managed to beat it just once during that time.
With that in mind, how can anyone favor the Rams' chances in this game considering the team's inconsistent play and its recent track record against the 49ers?
The 49ers will win this game, and St. Louis will be thankful if it's a close game.
Prediction: 49ers 35, Rams 16
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