The San Francisco 49ers' season is on the line, and they face a formidable divisional rival on Thursday Night Football. Sean McVay and the Rams look to sweep the 49ers this season, which hasn't been done since 2018, and remain in the playoff hunt. The 49ers must win if there's any chance for them to make it to the postseason, so this game may be a little more interesting, given the stakes. What must the 49ers do to succeed, defeat the Rams, and even the season series to 1-1? The team must stick to the "Keys to Victory."
Run The Ball
The Rams' defense ranks 28th against the run, giving up an average of 141.0 yards per game. Expect Kyle Shanahan to mix up the run between the running backs, wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Ricky Pearsall, and a designed run from quarterback Brock Purdy. If the 49ers can run the ball successfully, they will win the game.
Play-Action Pass
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy ranks 23rd in play-action pass attempts this season with 72. The 49ers have 787 yards on such plays, ranking them 14th in the NFL. The team also has four touchdowns on play-action pass attempts, ranking them 13th.
The 49ers must run the ball effectively for this to work successfully. The Rams' defense ranks 24th in passing yards per game, giving up an average of 225.1 yards per game. Expect big games from tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Jauan Jennings.
Take Care of the Ball
The 49ers must protect the football. This means zero fumbles and zero interceptions. Last week, against the Bears, the 49ers had zero turnovers, and they scored 38 points. The 49ers need to control this game with long, sustainable scoring drives. If the 49ers win the turnover battle, they will win the game.
Stop the Run
The 49ers' defense did well against the Bears' run game, holding them to 68 yards on the ground and zero touchdowns. They will face a formidable rushing attack led by running back Kyren Williams. The 49ers must find a way to limit Williams' runs. The last time the two teams faced off, he rushed for 89 yards on 24 attempts with two touchdowns. The 49ers must keep Williams from scoring in the red zone and limit his explosive runs.
Limit Explosive Plays
Quarterback Matthew Stafford will look to get the ball down the field on big-time throws. The 49ers need to control the game in the air. If Stafford goes deep, play fundamental football down the field. The 49ers' run defense must limit runs to 10 yards or less on the ground. If the run defense plays loose, they will remain on the field, which will cause the pass defense to struggle against the play-action pass. If the 49ers can limit the explosive plays, they will be on their way to a victory.
The bottom line is that the 49ers' offense needs to score, and the defense needs to prevent the Rams from scoring. This is a divisional matchup for a chance to make the playoffs, so it may be win or go home for both teams. The 49ers must bring the energy, set the tone on offense and defense, and stick to the "Keys to Victory" to keep their playoff hopes alive.