The Los Angeles Rams are coming off their best win of the season, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night to improve to 7-3 and moving into a tie for first in the NFC West with the Seahawks. They'll look to improve on that record Sunday when they face a struggling San Francisco 49ers team. The Niners beat the Rams back on October 18, but the two teams are now heading in different directions. The Rams are home this time and are 7.5 point favorites. Can they take care of business at home in a short week?
Niners are beat up
The 49ers had a bye last week and it came at a good time as the team had been reeling, losers of three straight. Last year's NFC champions have struggled mightily this year and sit at 4-6. The playoffs look like an impossibility at this point, considering the team is dealing with some major injuries. Players have just been dropping like flies, starting with quarterback Jimmy Garroppolo, who is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain. Tight end George Kittle is also out indefinitely with a foot injury, as is receiver Brandon Aiyuk.Two other top weapons, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and running back Raheem Mostert are questionable. Basically, all of their best offensive players are either on the shelf or hurt. There are also injuries on defense, including defensive lineman Nick Bosa and lineman Dee Ford, to name a few. So this is not anything near the Niners team that won the NFC last year. The Niners will roll with backup quarterback Nick Mullens against a tough Rams defense.
Rams score big win
The Los Angeles Rams are starting to look like that team that made it to the Super Bowel from the NFC two years ago. On Monday, the Rams scored their best win of the season, beating Tom Brady and the Buccaneers by the score of 27-24. The Rams took a 27-24 lead with just over two minutes left on a Matt Gay field goal. In the final two minutes, they sealed the win with a Jordan Fuller interception of a Tom Brady pass. The win improved their record to 7-3, tied for first in the NFC West with Seattle.The Rams thoroughly outplayed the Bucs, racking up 413 total yards to just 251 for Tampa Bay. Jared Goff was 39 for 51 for 376 yards with 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Cooper Kupp had a huge game with 11 catches for 145 yards while Robert Woods had 12 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. The Rams didn't mount much of a running attack against Tampa Bay's strong run defense, but they showed that they can take what the defense gives them and win games through the air if need be.
Stats & Trends
- 49ers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
- 49ers are 4-10-1 ATS in their last 15 vs. NFC West.
- 49ers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- 49ers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. NFC.
- 49ers are 1-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- 49ers are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 games in November.
- Rams are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Rams are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games after accumulating more than 350 total yards in their previous game.
- Rams are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 games as a home favorite.
- Rams are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NFC West.
- Rams are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
- Rams are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games on fieldturf.
- Rams are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games when playing on Sunday following a Monday night game.
- Rams are 19-7-1 ATS in their last 27 vs. NFC.
- Rams are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Rams are 15-7-1 ATS in their last 23 games as a favorite.
The Pick
Take the Rams here giving up the points. The Niners beat the Rams earlier this year bit these are now two different teams. The Rams are a dead team, through no fault of their own but through injuries. The year started off with key injuries and just kept piling up. Their playoffs hopes are gone and there's little to play for other than pride. Meanwhile, the Rams are playing their best football of the season and they are all in. The Rams are legit contenders for the NFC title and there's no way they let this one slip away, especially since they lost to the Niners just a month ago. There will be some revenge served up on Sunday.