Today, the San Francisco 49ers will play host to the St. Louis Rams at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. It will be the teams' second meeting of the season.
The 49ers (4-3), who two weeks ago lost to the Denver Broncos by the score of 42-17, are coming off of a much needed bye week. Last week, the Rams (2-5) were defeated 34-7 by the Kansas City Chiefs.
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The 49ers defense will start seeing some key players returning over the next few weeks. This week could see the return of linebacker Patrick Willis, who missed the game two weeks ago with a toe injury. He is listed as questionable and his status will be a game-time decision. While he has said that he is getting better every day, he still feels pain each time he takes a step.
The team will likely have to wait on the return of Aldon Smith. The league has not yet announced an early return for the linebacker, who is serving a nine-game suspension for violations of the NFL's personal conduct and substance abuse policies.
Jimmie Ward, who is listed as probable after a quadricep injury, is likely to play against the Rams. As is cornerback Chris Culliver. Cornerback Tramaine Brock is listed as questionable.
The offense will see the return of lineman Mike Iupati, who suffered a concussion against during the team's last meeting with the Rams. That line lost Daniel Kilgore for the season after he suffered a fractured left ankle against the Broncos. Rookie Marcus Martin will attempt to fill in for the remainder of the season.
During the two teams' last meeting, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick went 22 of 35 for 343 yards and three touchdowns on the road in St. Louis. Compare that to Rams quarterback Austin Davis, who went 21 of 42 for 236 yards, a touchdown and an interception. That interception was in the final moments of the game, clinching a 49ers' win.
This season, the Rams have had injury problems as well. Their latest includes left tackle Jake Long, who tore his ACL last week against the Chiefs. It is his second serious knee injury in the past 10 months. Also lost for the season is receiver Brian Quick, who suffered a shoulder injury.
Former 49ers head coach George Seifert will be inducted into the team's Hall of Fame today.
As usual, you can visit 49erswebzone.com for the latest news and updates during and after the game.
Offensive Rankings:
The 49ers rank 11th with 357.4 yards per game. The Rams rank 22nd with 336.4 yards per game.
Defensive Rankings:
The 49ers rank 2nd, allowing 306 yards per game. The Rams rank 19th, allowing 375.6 yards per game.
Last Meeting:
After trailing early by 14, the 49ers beat the Rams 31-17 in St. Louis, Missouri on October 13th.
Kickoff:
The game kicks off at 1:05 PM PT.
Betting:
The 49ers are 10 point favorites.
Fan Picks:
At Yahoo! Sports, 88% of fans believe that the 49ers will win this game. Within our Pick 'em contest, 99% of fans believe that the 49ers will win this game.
Follow the Game:
You can follow the game live on NFL.com's Game Center.
Social Media:
You can also discuss the game with fans in the 49erswebzone.com forums. Become a fan of 49erswebzone.com on Facebook and Google+ or follow us on Twitter.
Television:
The game will be televised nationally on FOX. You can check to see if the game is being aired in your area at 506 Sports.