49ers vs. Rams live updates: Score, channel, news, analysis as L.A. can clinch NFC West title with win or Cardinals loss – The Athletic

Matthew Stafford has been one of the more interesting players in the league to track this season. Once the leader in expected points per dropback, he has dropped all the way to 10th. His season trajectory has followed the trajectory of some of Jared Goff’s best seasons with the Rams.

Ben Baldwin, a football analytics researcher, broke it down in a handy chart.

Adam Hirshfield·

Senior Editor, NFL

KC Joyner

Won’t be first time that Garoppolo has operated vs Rams behind 2 backup offensive tackles. In fact, this 49ers’ 5-game win streak started in LA in 2019, when LT Justin Skule and RT Daniel Brunskill replaced Staley/McGlinchey. SF won.

Moore/Compton in for Williams/Compton today

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 9, 2022

Can the 49ers imprint their brand of football again? Over most of the past five meetings against the Rams, all wins, the 49ers have succeeded in accentuating their strengths while sidelining what the Rams have done best. Quick-release, efficient passing has allowed the 49ers to hide from L.A.‘s pass rush and has set the table for a bruising run game that’s controlled time of possession.

With the 49ers’ QB plans being so murky, it’s hard to know how effectively they might be able to replicate their formula. But that’s what this game’s outcome rides on, whether it be Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance or both quarterbacks trying to execute the plan.

On the other side of the ball, the 49ers defense — perhaps the healthiest it’s been since the season opener — will square off against a balanced Rams offense that’s protected Matthew Stafford notably well this season. Can the 49ers’ resurgent pass rush continue its success against a better opponent? This game has all the ingredients to be a classic.

David Lombardi·

Staff Writer, 49ers

It’s not just the opportunity to clinch the NFC West that’s on the line for the Rams ahead of a home showdown against San Francisco — it’s a matter of pride at this point, after five consecutive losses to former Sean McVay boss Kyle Shanahan.

The Rams are coming into the matchup healthy, and on a five-game win streak with much up in the air in terms of playoff seeding; the 49ers are less healthy but as motivated as they can be with their eyes also set on the postseason.

Jourdan Rodrigue·

Staff Writer, Rams

KC Joyner

Projected 49ers’ O-line for this huge game:

LT Jaylon Moore

LG Laken Tomlinson

C Alex Mack

RG Daniel Brunskill

RT Tom Compton

Verifies my ongoing theory that at least 7 quality offensive linemen are needed for a team to make a legit run. We’ll see if SF has that crucial number

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 9, 2022

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Inactive for the Rams: Bryce Perkins, Chris Garrett, Terrell Lewis, Alaric Jackson, Tremayne Anchrum, Brycen Hopkins.

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) January 9, 2022

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Big pre-game news: Trent Williams and K’Waun Williams are OUT for today’s game against the Rams. Rookie Jaylon Moore will start at LT.

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) January 9, 2022

K’Waun Williams is also inactive for the 49ers in a surprise development since he came off the Covid list on Saturday. That also hurts SF, although Jimmie Ward is active and that can help fill a lot of that gap

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 9, 2022

Other inactives for SF:

* LB Marcelo Harris (Achilles)

* LB Azeez Al-Shaair

* DL Mo Hurst

* S Jarrod Wilson

Dre Greenlaw is active. He and Fred Warner figure to play LB, Dontae Johnson could be the team’s nickel CB.

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) January 9, 2022

KC Joyner

The Athletic NFL Staff

Trent Williams won’t play today.

Other inactives for SF:

* LB Marcelo Harris (Achilles)

* LB Azeez Al-Shaair

* DL Mo Hurst

* S Jarrod Wilson

Dre Greenlaw is active. He and Fred Warner figure to play LB, Dontae Johnson could be the team’s nickel CB.

David Lombardi·

Staff Writer, 49ers

Trent Williams is inactive for the 49ers. Rookie Jaylon Moore will presumably start at LT in this huge game on his 24th birthday pic.twitter.com/kGNRQYFZqL

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 9, 2022

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Pregame work for Tom Compton, who essentially took over RT for the injured Mike McGlinchey around the time of the 49ers’ Week 10 win over the Rams. He’s performed very well for them since, especially in the run game. One of the many key players today pic.twitter.com/visBjbJJs2

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 9, 2022

Matt Barrows·

Senior Writer, 49ers

Some pre-game question marks for #49ers:

* Who‘s starting at CB?

* What’s Trent Williams’ status/condition? (Listed as questionable with elbow injury; did not practice all week)

* Oh yeah — who’s playing QB?

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) January 9, 2022

If the 49ers win on Sunday, four of their 16 combined wins the last two seasons will have come against the Rams, fully 25 percent. In this period, the 49ers are 3-0 against the Rams and 12-17 against everybody else.

Kyle Shanahan beat the playoff-bound Rams last year when the 49ers were headed to a 6-10 mark and had Nick Mullens at QB. If he still has the mojo over Rams coach Sean McVay, he should be able to figure out a way to beat another playoff-bound Rams team with either a healthy Trey Lance or a banged-up Jimmy Garoppolo.

Over this same two-season period, the 49ers are 1-3 against Arizona and 0-4 against Seattle. Can you imagine what the last two seasons would feel like for the 49ers if they weren’t regularly whomping the Rams? Also: How enjoyable would it be for the 49ers if they beat the Rams in the regular-season finale and maybe set up another Shanahan-McVay matchup in the playoffs?

Tim Kawakami·

Senior Columnist & EIC, Bay Area

If you just look at the numbers, the Rams make plenty of sense as a frisky Super Bowl contender. They have 12 wins and a +91 point differential, which is tied for third-best in the NFC. Their offense is fifth in EPA per drive and seventh in success rate. Their defense is 10th in EPA per drive and 16th in success rate. With Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, Jalen Ramsey, Odell Beckham Jr., Von Miller and others, they have plenty of star power. The Rams look the part of a well-rounded, competitive team.

But do you trust Matthew Stafford to be good enough for them to go on a three-game run and make the Super Bowl?

Stafford has five interceptions and a lost fumble in his past two games. Rams coach Sean McVay pointed out that all of the turnovers weren’t on Stafford. That’s fine. But the truth is those six turnovers could have easily been eight or nine if opposing defenses had capitalized on additional opportunities. Stafford is just making a lot of mistakes right now.

The good news for the Rams is that Stafford doesn’t have to be perfect. They can win in different ways. They have playmakers. McVay can scheme it up. The defense can lead the way in certain matchups. Stafford just has to be good enough.

He will get a chance to write his own narrative in the playoffs. But if you’re asking me if I trust Stafford as much as the other top quarterbacks in the NFC, the answer is no.

Sheil Kapadia·

Senior Writer, NFL

KC Joyner

Jalen Ramsey was traded to Los Angeles exactly one month after a sideline confrontation with former Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone. One of his first meetings after the trade was with former Rams cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant, now the defensive backs coach for the Lions. In five days Ramsey would be tasked with covering Julio Jones, but Pleasant didn’t start with football. The two talked for hours about everything else instead. After that, Pleasant knew how hard Ramsey could be pushed. He also realized how badly Ramsey wanted it.

Ramsey could be difficult to coach, Pleasant believed, but not because he didn’t understand things or argued or because he assumed he had all the answers and didn’t have to listen to anybody. Ramsey certainly did often have the correct answers before other players — and sometimes coaches, too. In the past, that made certain coaches distance themselves from him.

But Pleasant recognized Ramsey just inherently wanted more to do. He craved being around people who could teach him new things. “I am challenging,” Ramsey says, smiling, “especially mentally. I like to surround myself with people who also challenge me, who want to debate, so I can see things differently.”

For Pleasant and the rest of the Rams defensive staff, the word “challenge” did not carry a negative connotation.

“I think the people who have struggled or had any issues coaching him in the past (did) because of a failure to understand,” says assistant secondary coach Jonathan Cooley. “He gives you all of the answers to the test. You just have to listen. He is such an intuitive person, such a smart guy that he pays attention to everything. Nothing goes over his head.

“You can’t cheat people who are always paying attention,” Cooley continues. “You don’t need to tell him things just to tell him things to feel like you’re coaching … (and) you have to be an open-minded coach.”

Jourdan Rodrigue·

Staff Writer, Rams

KC Joyner

For those wishing to place a wager on this game, here are some trends courtesy TruMedia.

San Francisco is 3-0 against the spread versus Los Angeles since 2020. The 49ers are currently listed at +3.5 per BetMGM.

Los Angeles is 4-1 against the spread in its last five.

Los Angeles is 1-4 against the spread in its last five against teams with winning records.

San Francisco is 17-7 in road games since 2019.

San Francisco is 1-4 against the spread when facing division opponents in 2021.

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