So that trip to Seattle was not as bad as I thought, but the San Francisco 49ers still left with a loss and an 0-2 record. No time to wallow, because the Los Angeles Rams come to Levi’s Stadium tonight coming off a loss of their own and we’ve got work to do. Historically, the Niners do well against the Rams – I mean, they were the only team they beat in 2016, so fingers crossed. Let’s take a look!

San Fransisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams

Ones to Watch:

• The 49ers have yet to score a touchdown this season. No matter how good your defense is – and we’ll get to that in a minute – you have to score points to win games. You just have to.

• Brian Hoyer is a hot mess, and there’s really no other way to put it. He threw for a total of 99 yards the other day – for the whole entire game. He also had another terrible interception. And this was totally on him. Carlos Hyde rushed for over 100 yards; the offensive line was much improved with Laken Tomlinson. The lack of offense falls on the shoulders of QB1, and he’s going to have to clean it up fast.

• Also, Marquise Goodwin. No matter how fast you are, if you can’t catch the ball, it doesn’t help. Two games. Two big, bad Goodwin drops. This needs to stop. Like, two weeks ago.

• Rams quarterback Jared Goff will be going against a 49ers defense that played incredibly well in Seattle, despite being on the field for 77 plays. Goff and Co. are coming off an overtime loss to the Redskins in which they did not look as sharp as they did in week one. The 49er pass rush will have to apply pressure to the young QB to force him into mistakes.

• The much-improved run defense will have its work cut out for it with Todd Gurley, who’s looking a lot more like Todd Gurley. He finished Sunday with 88 yards rushing, 48 yards receiving and two TDs. But I’m not worried. NaVorro Bowman – who looked incredible in Seattle – and friends have this.

Game Prediction:

In the battle of rookie coaches, I think Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers will get the win over Sean McVay’s Rams. If the 49ers defense can continue its strong play and Brian Hoyer can get something, anything, going, the Niners will be victorious at home…I hope. Go Niners!

[NFL-49ers-footer]

Photo Credits:

• 49er Logo on wikimedia commons by San Francisco 49ers
• Carlos Hyde on wikimedia commons by Jeffrey Beall
• Jared Goff on wikimedia commons by Jeffrey Beall
• Todd Gurley on flickr by Christina VanMeter