San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
· National Football LeagueBig stars are missing from both teams due to injury for the latest meeting in the Rams-49ers rivalry
Both California teams have usually fielded a pair of rosters filled with NFL stars at the peak of their talents, even if the Niners usually win.
Both teams are missing several top players because of injuries when they meet on Sunday, putting a decided damper on the Rams' home opener in Inglewood.
The 49ers (1-1) will be without Christian McCaffrey (leg) and Deebo Samuel (calf) — and tight end George Kittle (hamstring) also could be sidelined or limited. The Rams (0-2) won't have their top two receivers and offensive playmakers, Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee).
But Matthew Stafford and Brock Purdy both are healthy, and they'll try to do more with less in the biannual rivalry game.
“I think the biggest thing for me as a quarterback is (to) just go out there and trust," said Stafford, who will also be playing behind a third new starting lineup on his offensive line.
“I trust those guys that they’re going to do their job,” Stafford added. "There’s some high-level stuff that guys that I’ve played with for five or six years that you can talk about and feel good about doing. When you have new guys in different spots, some of that isn’t there. But you just go out there, trust that they’re going to be in the right spots, throw the ball and let them do their thing.”
The 49ers are still smarting from last week's 23-17 loss to Minnesota, and their offensive depth is already being tested without their star running back and their do-it-all receiver. McCaffrey and Samuel accounted for 3,340 yards from scrimmage and 33 TDs last season.
“Hopefully they’ll be OK, but I’m not sad that they’re not playing against us,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “They are still as good as it gets offensively in this league.”
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said the number of plays in the game plan won’t change, but there will be some that won’t make the cut this week without both players in the lineup.
“You eliminate some special things that you would only do for those guys, but the number (of plays) doesn’t change,” Shanahan said. “There’s things those guys do very well. Nothing other guys can’t do. But there’s kind of different percentages on how much you call them and things like that.”
McVay also has to make major changes to his game plan in the absence of Kupp and Nacua. Veterans Tyler Johnson and Demarcus Robinson are stepping up for the Rams, who are 0-2 for the first time in McVay's career.
“It’s definitely a little different,” Shanahan said. “That’s been 99% of our brain power for a number of years, and it’s kind of weird just not thinking that way.”
Garoppolo smiled at the idea of what might happen if he has to play against Nick Bosa and Fred Warner on San Francisco’s hard-nosed defense.
“The trash talk would get real, real quick I bet,” Garoppolo said. “That’s one thing I know that would pick up, just from knowing those guys. It would be cool, but Staff has got it right now. I think we’re in good hands. Staff has been balling, and he’s just got to keep going.”
Garoppolo also knows about the noise made by Niners fans at SoFi Stadium. Many older football fans in the Los Angeles area adopted the 49ers as their favorite team during the NFL's 21-year absence from the nation's second-largest media market.
“Being on this side of it, we've got to deal with the noise a little bit,” Garoppolo said. “Just being honest. We'll see what happens Sunday. Rams Nation came out pretty good in the preseason, so hopefully with the home opener and everything, it will be a pretty good crowd.”
AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed.
How can I watch 49ers vs. Rams?
- TV Channel: 49ers at Rams 2021-22 NFL, week 3 is broadcasted nationally on FOX and NFL Sunday Ticket.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
In Canada, viewers can watch 49ers vs. Rams on DAZN.
Statistics
SF | LAR | |
---|---|---|
24.5 | Points Per Game | 15.0 |
416.0 | Total Yards | 334.5 |
275.0 | Yards Passing | 266.5 |
141.0 | Yards Rushing | 68.0 |
21.0 | Points Allowed Per Game | 33.5 |
342.5 | Yards Allowed | 438.5 |
235.5 | Pass Yards Allowed | 241.5 |
107.0 | Rush Yards Allowed | 197.0 |
Los Angeles Rams Injuries
NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
---|---|---|
Cobie Durant, CB | Questionable | Sep 19 |
Joshua Karty, PK | Questionable | Sep 19 |
Bobby Brown III, DT | Questionable | Sep 19 |
Davis Allen, TE | Questionable | Sep 18 |
Cooper Kupp, WR | Doubtful | Sep 18 |
San Francisco 49ers Injuries
NAME, POS | STATUS | DATE |
---|---|---|
Charvarius Ward, CB | Questionable | Sep 19 |
Nick Bosa, DE | Questionable | Sep 19 |
Deebo Samuel Sr., WR | Doubtful | Sep 19 |
George Kittle, TE | Questionable | Sep 19 |
Christian McCaffrey, RB | Injured Reserve | Sep 15 |
Game Information
Location: Inglewood, CA - 73°
Capacity:
2024 NFC West Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | T | PF | PA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seattle | 0 | 40 | 49 | 0 | 1.000 | 2 |
Arizona | 1 | 44 | 69 | 0 | .500 | 1 |
San Francisco | 1 | 42 | 49 | 0 | .500 | 1 |
Los Angeles | 2 | 67 | 30 | 0 | .000 | 0 |
Rams Last 5
Date | OPP | Result |
---|---|---|
vs DAL | W 13-12 | |
@ LAC | W 13-9 | |
@ HOU | L 17-15 | |
@ DET | L 26-20 OT | |
@ ARI | L 41-10 | |
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