The San Francisco 49ers travel to Los Angeles for a week two date with the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco has won the last eight regular season contests between the two teams. Sunday’s matchup is a big one with the winner taking a one game lead over the rest of the NFC West.
Longtime rivals, this will serve as a de facto home opener for the 49ers. According to Vivid Seats, nearly 65 percent of tickets purchased have been by Sand Francisco fans.
Here are my five burning questions for week 2.
1 Will Brock Purdy keep the streaks alive?
Brock Purdy brings several streaks into his first career start against the Rams. Purdy is the first quarterback in NFL history to throw two or more touchdowns in their first six regular season starts. He is also the first quarterback in league history to post a passer rating of at least 95 over that span.
In addition to the personal accomplishments, Purdy has a perfect 6-0 record as a starter in the regular season.
On Sunday he will face a Rams defense that allowed just 112 yards passing in its season opening win over the Seattle Seahawks.
2 Will Spencer Burford and the 49ers offensive line contain Aaron Donald?
The second-year right guard struggled against Pittsburgh in the season opener. He allowed four pressures on Brock Purdy, a career high. Now he will face seven-time All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
San Francisco has held Donald without a sack over the course of the last four regular season matchups. The job of keeping that streak alive now falls on the shoulders of Spencer Burford after the 49ers lost Daniel Brunskill in free agency.
Burford started both games against Losa Angeles last season and played 58 percent of the snaps while splitting resp with Brunskill. Of those snaps, 32 were passes and Burford managed to hold Donald to just one quarterback hit and one pressure.
3 Will San Francisco’s pass rush get to Matthew Stafford?
San Francisco’s pass rush sets the tone for the defense. In week one they recorded five sacks while hitting Kenny Pickett another four times. They also hurried the Steelers quarterback on 20 of 54 drop backs.
This week the 49ers will face a Rams offense which allowed quarterback Matthew Stafford to be hit just twice on 41 drop backs against the Seattle Seahawks.
Last season, San Francisco got to Stafford for 11 sacks and another eight hits in their two wins over the Rams. Getting pressure on Stafford will lead to opportunities for the 49ers secondary to come away with interceptions.
The veteran quarterback has a history of putting the ball in harm’s way when he feels defenders around him. San Francisco’s defense has recorded a pick-six in the first meeting with Los Angeles each of the last two seasons.
4 Does the 49ers defense have the slot figured out?
The only question on the 49ers defense has been in the slot. They added Isaiah Oliver during free agency. However, the veteran struggled during training camp. As a result, San Francisco went into week one with Deommodore Lenoir sliding inside to play the slot with Ambry Thomas coming in to pay the boundary. Thomas made several mistakes in the first half against Pittsburgh and was benched in favor of Oliver after the half.
San Francisco now will face a Rams team which attacks the slot like no other in the NFL. Even without star receiver Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles received 238 yards receiving from rookie Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell against Seattle.
Nacua’s physical style drew comparisons to Jauan Jennings from Kyle Shanahan earlier this week. Atwell on the other hand is a smaller receiver with speed to take the top off the defense.
5 Will the 49ers shut down the Rams run game?
San Francisco’s defense has consistently been able to shut down the Rams ability to run the ball. In the last four matchups between the two teams Los Angeles has averaged just 3.01 yard per rush attempt and been held to a high of 64 yards.
Taking away the run Sunday will allow the 49ers pass rush to focus on getting after Matthew Stafford. And when San Francisco makes an opponent one dimensional they win.
Prediction
49ers 34 Rams 17
Also is the Steelers lose that streak will be kept alive by opponents losing their next game after playing the 49ers.
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Jack
#1: Will Brock Purdy keep the streaks alive? It’s time to end the click bait question and stop beating that dead horse! The kid has proven himself!
#2: Will Burford and the 9er o-line contain Aaron Donald? You answered your own question.
“Burford started both games against LA Rams last season and played 58 percent of the snaps while splitting reps with Brunskill.” “The 9ers held Donald without a sack over the course of the last four regular season matchups.”
#3: Yes!
#4: No! And IMO, the reason why the Rams score 13 points.
#5: Will the 49ers shut down the Rams run game?
Yes! I predict Akers will get less than 75 yards against the 9ers.
Again, you answer your own question. “San Francisco’s defense has consistently been able to shut down the Rams ability to run the ball. In the last four matchups between the two teams Los Angeles has averaged just 3.01 yard per rush attempt and been held to a high of 64 yards.”
My question for you Jack: Will the Rams use 6 defensive linemen trying to keep CMC under 100 yards? And if they do, will Aiyuk, Deebo and Kittle all go over 100 yards receiving?
9er 31 Rams 13
#1 No (because of #2)
#2 No
#3 Yes
#4 Yes and no Oliver will control Nacua. Atwell will own Oliver.
#5 Yes
Jack do you know why the 49ers don’t start Womack at outside corner and then move Lenoir into the slot?
Womack is going on IR with an MCL injury
1. Not sure if Brock Purdy will keep the streak alive but he will play well. Raheem Morris is good at shutting down the run game and daring teams to beat him with the pass. Purdy and the guys will torch them in the passing game. Running game may not be as good this game but the passing game will be better.
2. Brendel, Burford, and McKivitz are the key to this game in both the run and pass game. If they play poorly, the 49ers could easily lose this game.
3. I know the stats looked good last week but there were multiple times where I thought the pass rush didn’t look too good. I think the 49ers front 7 is outstanding but I really don’t think the pass rush is top level just yet.
4. Slot is definitely not figured out so I expect McVay to exploit the weakness there. Rams will score some points in this game and I think they will have success attacking Ambrey or Oliver.
5. 49ers should be able to shut down the Rams run game. The Rams seem to run only just enough to keep a defense honest.
1.6 Pariot
3) “there were multiple times where I thought the pass rush didn’t look too good.”
while I agree with you, we need to take into account that Bosa only had a couple of practices before the steelers game. His pass rush will get better the more playing time gets.
* The Steeler game was also the first time Bosa, Hargrave and Armstead played together. Their pass rush, as a unit, will also improve the more they play together.
Jack,
Yes, on all counts, with the wild-card being the slot. That position is in flux and hopefully is figured out sooner than later.
Perhaps when Luter is ready he can be developed on the slot for next season.
Does Bosa get his first sack on Sunday?
AES
*Q: “Does Bosa get his first sack on sunday?”
*A: The Rams have a conundrum when it comes to the LT position entering the 2023 season. Their 1st option was Joseph Noteboom, who’s never finished a season healthy and is coming off of a torn achilles. (He’s now been moved to RG).
The Rams decided to replace LT Andrew Whitworth with Alaric Jackson, a 2nd year LT out of Iowa.
NOTE: Jackson had his worst game in 2022 trying to control Bosa.
NOTE: Jackson had a 45.8 run-block grade at tackle in 2022 which was one of the worst marks in the NFL.
Kerry hyder jr gets another sack tonight. Book it.
Are the raiders real? They blasted right through the Bill’s defense with ease. I had Buffalo in a blow-out win today. I may have to take that back. Jimmy G, seems to finds a way.