San Francisco 49ers @ LA Rams Game PReview

Sheriff Joe Bags | @SheriffJoeBags

The Los Angeles Rams opens the gates to SoFi Stadium for the first time this season on Sunday for a match up against the San Francisco 49ers for week 2 of the 2023 NFL season. This game is televised on FOX with Kevin Kuglar and Mark Sanchez on the call for the second straight week while Laura Okmin will again be roaming the sideline.

It’s Niners week. Something that just feels a little bit different when you’re a Rams fan. There are rivals all over the NFL and other teams that Rams fans feel a particular way about, but nothing matches the emotions the 49ers can elicit from even the most tame Rams fan. The Los Angeles vs San Francisco rivalry runs pretty deep and this match up is only a piece of that puzzle. Making my rounds on X (the artist formerly known as Twitter) it is clear also that this particular rivalry muddies the water of where fans can see eye-to-eye. Yes I cam making a direct comment on the fans who are Dodgers and 49ers fans who will say things like “Beat LA” while wearing a Dodgers hat.

These teams enter week 2 with different media perspectives, but very similar outputs on the season so far. We are only looking at one game, so “averages” don’t exactly exist yet. All we know of both of these teams is that they looked really good in what are historically known as difficult places to play (Pittsburgh and Seattle). The Rams and 49ers both tallied 30 points. The Rams are viewed as a team who maybe got lucky in week 1, but had an absolutely dominant second half while the 49ers had massive first half success over the Steelers.

HISTORY:

The Rams and 49ers first met on October 1, 1950. Each team has had it’s streaks, but the 49ers lead the all-time series 77-68-3 making this the 149th all-time meeting.

The last time these two played, The 49ers defeated the Rams 31-14 in late October of last year. The 49ers have won the last 8 regular season games against the Rams while the lone Rams win in that span was the NFC Championship game to send the Rams to Super Bowl LVI.

WHO TO WATCH:

OFFENSE:

QB Matthew Stafford: He told us he felt great. Some of us believed him, some of us did not. It’s only been one game and the NFL season is long, but in week 1, Matthew Stafford looked great. He looked comfortable in the pocket, he looked quick with his release and quick through his reads. The 49ers defense does have a new coordinator, but so far have played well with a strong roster. A good feeling Matthew Stafford against a fast defense that has a lot of playmakers is a must. The Rams could try to rely on the run this week, but the offensive line looked strong in pass protection last week which will hopefully spill over into this week. An upright Stafford is a good at football Stafford.

RB Kyren Williams: In week 1 against Seattle, Kyren Williams scored both his first and second career touchdowns. A break out candidate in the offseason looks like he’s ready to take that next step this season and continue to be an important piece of the Rams attacke. Cam Akers is certainly not ‘done’ in any capacity, but Kyren Williams showed the ability to get some difficult yards, and against the 49ers, you gotta get the difficult yards.

WR Tutu Atwell: Why am I still hesitant to fully buy in on Tutu? Do other people feel these things or is it just me? Either way, last week was incredible for Tutu Atwell. Easily his best career game and the best part is that it looks sustainable. The way the Tutu Train was used in motion was pretty dang fun to watch. I definitely had my scales tipped pretty favorably, and if this happens again, and then maybe again? and AGAIN? Then maybe it’s time to put in my number 5 jersey order. The Rams offense having Tutu and Puka performing so well while still having viable options is pretty exciting. I’m hoping this is a week Atwell can carve his way through a defense again.

DEFENSE:

CB Derion Kendrick: There was something about the way DK looked after giving up the early touchdown to Metcalf that made me excited to watch the rest of the game focusing on him, and it was awesome. Kendrick looks like he’s taken a massive leap from year one to year two and I’m pumped to see how he develops this season in this defense. The 49ers have some serious weaponry on the offensive side of the ball and we really need to see guy like Kendrick be able to take away some plays for Aiyuk.

EDGE Byron Young: As expected, Young looks like he’s got everything you need to be a sick pass rusher in the NFL. He’s a little raw, but it’s literally the beginning of his rookie season. I’m really pumped to watch how Byron Young’s season unfolds. He seemed more comfortable as the game went on and if we can see that go from game to game also, then even more reason to be pumped.

DT Aaron Donald: This offseason we got to hear the fun comments that Aaron Donald had fallen off. It’s safe to say after last week that if he has, it’s by a pretty small margin, but I’m going to go with no. He showed that he can still make an NFL offensive lineman look like he should be getting ready for class finals. It has been well documented that Aaron Donald hates the 49ers. This hatred fuels the robot that is Aaron Donald and Brock Purdy is the number one target. I definitely don’t want to see anyone injured, I just want Donald to rough him up a bit, that’s not so bad is it?

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