The Los Angeles Rams host the San Francisco 49ers for Week 3 of the NFL season. Both teams are hurting.
The Los Angeles Rams host their first home game of the season against their longtime NFC rival the San Fracisco 49ers. LA is coming off a brutal loss to the Arizona Cardinals and a loss to the 49ers would be back-to-back division losses for the Rams. With 14 games left to play after this Sunday anything can happen. But if LA starts 0-3, then you could argue that their season is over in terms of making the playoffs. The Rams really need to find a way to win here, but they are so injured it’s hard to envision.
What’s compelling about this particular matchup is with the Seattle Seahawks already 2-0 and leading the division, the 49ers need a win on Sunday too. Coincidently San Francisco is also dealing with some injuries and won’t have Christian McCaffrey or Deebo Samuel.
The 49ers and Rams play on Sunday in Los Angeles, and the game is likely to be without Christian McCaffrey, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson, amongst others.
It’s Week 3.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 19, 2024
How can the Rams win this game? Sean Mcvay has a beat-up offensive line, but he still has his star quarterback. Matthew Stafford will need to take care of the football and put together drives to at least gain field position or scoring opportunities. From there, hopefully LA’s defense isn’t on the field as much as SF’s defense.
That’s one way the Rams can win, but unfortunately for the Rams there are more ways they can lose.
The 49ers even with some injuries do appear healthier overall, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say their defense is a more proven unit and a better unit overall. LA’s beat up offensive line might get tired and not hold up forcing the offense to punt, and just last week we all saw what happens if LA’s defense is on the field series after series. They get exposed. LA’s new look defense (LA unsurprisingly misses Aaron Donald) probably will count on the offense to either score or at least string together a drive so they can rest, but also learn on the sidelines to prepare for SF’s next offensive series.
“Gonna be a lot more enjoyable.”
Trent Williams is pretty happy that the #49ers no longer have to line up against Aaron Donald when they face the #Rams. #FTTB pic.twitter.com/kSgcbyjpJz
— Matt Lively (@mattblively) September 19, 2024
Any given Sunday and it cannot be stressed enough that anyone can beat anyone in this league. However, for the Rams for this week, it does seem more likely they fall to 0-3 than otherwise.
49ers 20, Rams 10
You can listen to some friends and myself talk about the game below. We talk about each game, but after a 60 second intro we start with the Rams-49ers, so feel free to check that out!