Return of Rams-49ers West Coast rivalry may take time to rekindle

In the offseason, however, the Rams trekked from St. Louis back to Los Angeles after a 21-season absence, which inspires memories of a time when the NFC West matchup burned hotter. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher has firsthand knowledge of San Francisco-Los Angeles 1.0. Not surprisingly, Fisher's quote hasn't appeared in ESPN's promotional material in advance of the Rams' season-opening, prime-time visit to Levi's Stadium on Monday night. The 49ers and Rams combined for a 12-20 record last season, and chances for turnaround seasons appear dim because of their situations at the NFL's most vital position. [...] both teams' fans are probably eager to see another quarterback on the roster take snaps. Keenum is the Rams' fourth season-opening starting quarterbackin the past four seasons, a stretch during which they've failed to crack the NFL's top 20 in points scored. Keenum acknowledged the need to support a formidable defensive unit headlined by Pro Bowl linemen Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn. If the Rams' offense succeeds, it probably will receive a significant contribution from running back Todd Gurley, last season's Offensive Rookie of the Year. Despite missing the first two games...