L.a. Rams Rams vs San Francisco 49ers Picks and Predictions September 22nd 2024

FOX will televise the week three NFC West matchup between the 49ers and Rams at 4:25 ET. The game, being played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA, has the 49ers as -349 money line favorites and -7 point spread favorites. The Rams’ money line odds are +276, and the over/under line is 43.5 points.

San Francisco vs. Los Angeles Key Information

After a 23-17 loss to the Vikings, the 49ers are now 1-1 for the season. Favored by -4, they also failed to cover the spread. The game finished with a combined 40 points, falling short of the over/under line of 46.5 points. The 49ers were forced to play catch-up right from the start, as the Vikings led 3-0 after the 1st quarter. San Francisco managed to take a 7-3 lead in the 2nd quarter with a touchdown from Brock Purdy to Jauan Jennings but the Vikings responded with 10 points to lead 13-7 at halftime.

The 49ers didn’t score in the 3rd quarter, and the Vikings added a touchdown to make it 20-7 heading into the 4th. San Francisco made it 20-14 early in the 4th with a touchdown from Purdy to George Kittle, but the Vikings put the game out of reach with another touchdown and a 27-14 lead. The 49ers added a late touchdown with 1:15 remaining in the 4th.

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Despite a 23-17 loss to the Vikings, the 49ers’ offense picked up 24 first downs and 297 yards through the air. Brock Purdy, filling in at quarterback, completed 77.8% of his passes for 319 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked six times. The running game, led by Jordan Mason with 100 yards on 20 carries, added 102 yards.

Deebo Samuel was a key target for San Francisco, finishing with 110 receiving yards. The 49ers struggled on third down, converting only 20% of their chances, and their inability to protect the quarterback led to six sacks in the game.

In their 23-17 loss to the Vikings, the 49ers’ defense allowed 403 total yards and 146 rushing yards on just 24 attempts (6.1 yards per attempt). They gave up two passing touchdowns and allowed Minnesota to average 9.9 yards per passing attempt. Despite this, they did come up with four sacks and one interception.Offensively, the 49ers struggled on third downs, allowing the Vikings to convert 58.3% of their third down attempts. The 49ers’ offense went just 3 of 11 on third down in the game.

After falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, the Rams’ tough week 2 game vs. the Cardinals ended in a 41-10 loss. Los Angeles is now 0-2 on the season. The Rams managed to get a field goal in the 2nd quarter but still trailed 24-3 at halftime. Even though they found the endzone in the 3rd quarter, the game was already out of reach at 34-10 in favor of Arizona.

It was a tough day for the Rams’ defense, as Kyler Murray and the Cardinals found the endzone early and often. The Rams are still looking for their first win of the season after failing to cover the spread in this one, with the 31-point loss coming as a big surprise to many.

The Rams’ offense struggled to sustain drives in their 41-10 loss to the Cardinals, picking up just 14 first downs and going 1-for-9 on third down. They were also sacked five times and managed only 53 yards on 20 rushing attempts. Quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 192 yards, completing 70.4% of his passes, but he failed to throw any touchdowns.

Stafford was also the team’s leading rusher with 28 yards. Demarcus Robinson led the Rams with 50 receiving yards, 42 of which came on one catch. The Rams will be looking for a much better performance in their next game after being thoroughly outplayed by the Cardinals.

Struggling to stop the run, the Rams gave up 231 yards on the ground to the Cardinals in their most recent game, resulting in a 41-10 loss. The Rams’ defense was also torched through the air, allowing 258 yards on just 17 completions, which included three touchdowns. Arizona averaged 12.3 yards per passing attempt against the Rams.

Overall, the Rams gave up 489 yards and allowed the Cardinals to convert on 63.6% of their third down attempts. Los Angeles managed just one sack in the game and had a -6 differential in tackles for loss.

Our pick vs. the spread is to take the 49ers to cover, as the Rams are currently 7-point favorites in this week three matchup. We have the Rams winning by a score of 24-16, but with the 49ers covering as road underdogs.

For the over/under, we are leaning towards taking the under, with a projected combined score of 40 points and the O/U line sitting at just 43.5 points.

49ers Look to Revive Offense Against Struggling Rams

After a sluggish offensive showing in Week 2, the San Francisco 49ers (1-1) are looking to get back on track as they face their division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams (0-2), on Sunday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. While it’s technically an away game, the 49ers have found plenty of support in the Rams’ home stadium, often filling the stands with red and gold over the past several seasons.

49ers’ Offensive Struggles

San Francisco is coming off a frustrating 23-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, where their offense faltered without the presence of key playmakers. Star running back Christian McCaffrey, who has been a crucial part of the 49ers’ offense since joining the team, missed the game due to a calf strain and remains on injured reserve. The absence of McCaffrey has put additional pressure on quarterback Brock Purdy and the passing game to deliver.

The 49ers are also likely to be without dynamic wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who is doubtful for Sunday’s game with his own calf injury. Samuel is expected to miss the next two games, leaving the 49ers without two of their biggest offensive weapons.

Despite these challenges, Brock Purdy has been productive, leading the NFL with 550 passing yards through two games. However, Purdy has only one touchdown pass and threw his first interception of the season against Minnesota. His 72.3% completion rate ranks eighth in the league, but the 49ers’ offense has yet to find its rhythm.

“We’ve got the players. We’ve got the scheme. We’ve got what it takes,” Purdy said. “It’s dropping back and executing, knowing where my answers are and getting the balls in the guys’ hands, drop-stepping and getting first downs.”

The 49ers struggled with turnovers and special teams miscues against the Vikings, with Purdy losing a fumble and the team having a punt blocked. Head coach Kyle Shanahan emphasized the need for cleaner execution, saying, “It was too sloppy on our part… It was disappointing.”

Rams Dealing with Injuries and Offensive Line Issues

The Rams have their own set of problems as they enter Week 3 still searching for their first win. Injuries have ravaged Los Angeles, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receivers Puka Nacua (knee) and Cooper Kupp (ankle) are out, with Kupp expected to miss extended time. The offensive line has been decimated, with Jonah Jackson (shoulder), Steve Avila (knee), and Joe Noteboom (ankle) all on injured reserve.

Los Angeles’ offensive line struggles were evident in their 41-10 blowout loss to the Arizona Cardinals last week. Behind a makeshift line, even veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford found it difficult to maintain composure under constant pressure. The Rams hope to get some stability back on Sunday with tackle Alaric Jackson returning from suspension, but the offensive line remains a weak point.

“The amount of moving parts that we’ve had offensive line-wise has been wild,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. “It starts with me, putting guys in better spots.”

Defensively, the Rams have struggled to an NFL-worst 426 yards allowed per game, a significant drop-off after the retirement of future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The team has been particularly vulnerable against the run, allowing 197 yards per game, third worst in the league.

Key Matchups and Storylines

Injury Concerns

For the 49ers, Deebo Samuel remains doubtful with a calf injury, while safety Talanoa Hufanga is expected to make his season debut following ACL surgery in November. The Rams’ injury list is much longer, with wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua out, and offensive linemen Jonah Jackson, Steve Avila, and Joe Noteboom all on injured reserve. Rams tight end Davis Allen (back) and cornerback Cobie Durant (toe) are also dealing with injuries.

Final Thoughts

While both teams are dealing with significant injuries, the 49ers have the advantage in terms of depth and recent success. Los Angeles’ offensive line issues and defensive struggles make them vulnerable, especially against a 49ers team looking to bounce back from last week’s loss. San Francisco will aim to continue their dominance at SoFi Stadium, where they’ve won their last five regular-season meetings with the Rams.

For the Rams, the focus will be on finding stability on offense and limiting mistakes on defense. But with key players out, it will be an uphill battle to stop a 49ers team eager to regain its offensive rhythm.