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The 49ers head to Southern California to face the first-place (tie) Los Angeles Rams in a week two division rival match-up. What will the 49ers have to do to claim sole possession of first place in the NFC West? Below are the keys to victory.
Take away the Explosive Plays
Quarterback Matthew Stafford will look to get the ball downfield. In Week 1 against the Seahawks, Stafford went 24-38 passing for 340 yards with five big-time throws down the field. The 49ers defense wants to keep everything in front of them. If the secondary doesn't get beat deep, the Rams may have difficulty finding their way into the end zone.
Stop the run
The Rams scored three rushing touchdowns around the goal line against the Seahawks. The team rushed for 92 yards. The 49ers run defense allowed 41 yards to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, ranking them tied for first with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in stopping the run. When the 49ers stop the run game, it forces the Rams to be one-dimensional, potentially allowing the team's secondary to tee off on Stafford.
Beware of the Trick Plays
In a divisional game, beware of everything. The Rams attempted a flea-flicker against the Seahawks, which was unsuccessful. Special teams must be ready for fake punts and fake field goals.
Be Disciplined
The 49ers committed 11 penalties for 85 yards on the road in Pittsburgh. The Los Angeles Rams committed seven penalties for 53 yards on the road in Seattle. The 49ers must be disciplined to sustain drives and keep the momentum going. Being on the road against a division rival, the 49ers want to limit the amount of penalties if they want the optimal opportunity to defeat their rival.
Establish the Run
The 49ers rank third after Week 1 in rushing. The team rushed for 188 yards against the Steelers. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald will anchor the Rams' run defense. Look for the 49ers to stretch the run outside to wear out the defensive front. The Rams gave up 85 yards to the Seahawks, ranking them eighth in stopping the running. Expect the 49ers to utilize the screen pass if the Rams decide to stack the box to take away the run.
Wayne Breezie is a 49ers content creator. He had his first guest appearance on Ronbosports in 2012. He began writing for a Facebook group called the League of the 49ers. Next, he began writing for Nothing But Niners in 2017. In 2018, Wayne Breezie made his debut on YouTube’s Nothing But Niners show. In 2019, he started his podcast called Nitty Gritty Niners. After putting the pen down for several years, Breezie saw an opportunity to write for 49erscap.com. His first published article was in January of 2022 with 49ersCap, and he currently writes and produces weekly podcasts.
The second-place San Francisco 49ers (8-3) head to Philadelphia to take on the first-place Philadelphia Eagles (10-1). The Eagles' only loss this season came against the New York Jets in Week 6. The 49ers and the Jets have a similar defensive system. If San Francisco wants to improve to 9-3 and inch closer to the top seed in the NFC, they must stick to the "Keys to Victory."
Run the Ball
The Eagles' run defense is ranked third in the NFL. They are stingy against the run. The 49ers' run offense is ranked sixth, averaging 138 yards per game. Christian McCaffrey will be the toughest challenge for the Eagles. They haven't faced a top-ten running back all season long and are about to face the number-one running back.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan
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