This
NFC West division has been widely open all year long. Coming into the season it was largely discussed
as the Niners division for the taking.
Seattle had the best start pulling off a 3-0 record, then started to
crumble. L.A. was riddled with injuries
after just two weeks into the season causing them to rack up more losses than
wins through the first half of the season.
Arizona also started slowly but then seemed like the favorites to win
the division as they were starting to gain momentum and separation from the
rest of the West. Then the Cards lost
three straight games, two to the Seahawks.
With essentially almost every other division sewed up, only four weeks remaining,
and this NFC West is the most intriguing group of teams to focus on heading
into the postseason. This sets us up for
a massive Thursday Night NFL matchup between the Rams & Niners as week 15
is rapidly approaching.
San
Fransico has been in a bad way all season.
The fact that they still have a slight chance of winning this division is
a miracle. This past Sunday afternoon
the Niners offense went off. San Frans’
offense amassed over 450 total yards, 321 passing with 131 added yards in ground
production. They had 22 first downs
against a decent Chicago defense, converting 50% of their 3rd downs
(6/12) along with 100% on 4th downs (2/2). The offense was seemingly the most efficient
it’s been all year long. The O-line
played great only allowing Purdy to be sacked just once. Shanahan’s offense ran 61 plays, only punting
twice and Purdy was back to playing superior football again. Brock completed 80% of his passes (20 for 25)
throwing for 325 yards with 2 touchdowns.
Superstar tight end George Kittle stepped his game up while bringing in
6 receptions for 151 yards, averaging over 25 yards a clip. Jauan Jennings also showed up in a major way
with his 7 catches on 90 yards and scored 2 TDs. Even their rookie running back got into the act
when he scored twice on his 15 rushing attempts. This was a complete win on both sides of the
ball and their defense showed rookie Caleb Williams that they would not be
denied on their home field, sacking Williams 7 times.
49ERS OFFENSE-
TOTAL YDS P/G- 378.5 (4TH)
RUSH YDS P/G- 138.9 (7TH)
PASS YDS P/G- 239.6 (7TH)
POINTS P/G- 23.7 (11TH)
TOT SKS ALLOWED- 26 (11th)
DEFENSE-
TOT YDS ALLWD P/G- 298.5 (3RD)
RUSH YARDS P/G- 115.9 (12TH)
PASS YDS P/G- 182.6 (3RD)
PTS ALLWD P/G- 23.7 (21ST)
TOTAL SACKS- 35 (T-10TH)
Los
Angeles has continued to put up a very strong fight after quickly sinking at
the beginning of the season. They were
also going through a tremendous number of injuries to key players much like
their rivals. Sean McVay has finally gotten
his team over .500 for the first time this year after a cataclysmic 1-4 start
to their season. They have been in a
constant uphill battle and after winning the last two weeks they still have a
shot at mid-January football. L.A.
currently has a 34% chance to make the playoffs but will drop to only 23% with
a loss on Thursday Night. If they were
to come out on top their odds would then grow to 50%. Believe it or not, they are sitting in a
unique position with Washington losing a few of their last games because now
the Rams are the only bubble team that can seemingly make their way into a possible
Wild Card spot. They could potentially overtake
either Green Bay or Washington if they win out and if one or both of those
teams were to stumble in the last four weeks.
The Rams, much like their opponents this week had recorded the best offensive
game of their season on Sunday when they put 44 points on the Buffalo
Bills.
In a game that reminded
us just how incredible Josh Allen is (scored 6 TDs, 3 rushing + 3 passing,
accounting for 424 total yards). Somehow
the Rams not only matched the Bills' level of intensity but outdid them. McVay’s offense had 28 first downs, converted
11 of 15 third downs (73.33%), ran 72 plays, allowed 0 sacks, and only punted
two times. They also won the time of
possession battle 38:30-21:30 while not turning the ball over once. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford made it look
effortless, completing 23 of 30 passes for 320 yards and threw a pair of
touchdowns as well. Stafford’s all-star
receivers Nacua & Kupp both caught a TD each, Cooper grabbing 5 passes for
92 yards, while Puka had the bigger performance (12 rec, 162 yds). Let’s not forget the man in the backfield,
Kyren Williams who also got into the endzone twice while compiling 87 rushing yards.
RAMS OFFENSE-
TOTAL YDS P/G- 340.7 (15TH)
RUSH YDS P/G- 103.0 (25TH)
PASS YDS P/G- 237.7 (9TH)
POINTS P/G- 22.9 (16TH)
TOT SKS ALLWD- 28 (13TH)
DEFENSE-
TOT YDS ALLWD P/G- 365.7 (27TH)
RUSH YARDS P/G- 141.0 (28TH)
PASS YARDS P/G- 224.7 (23RD)
PTS ALLWD P/G- 25.5 (24TH)
TOTAL SACKS - 28 (24th)
I
think we are all in for quite a treat tomorrow night with much more than just an
exhibition game between bitter foes.
Look for a high-scoring event as two of the top ten passing offenses
will attempt to carve the others' defensive backs all game long. When you take a glimpse at the numbers both
teams are weaker against the run but don’t let that fool you as both squads
have great QBs at the helm. Stafford and
Purdy will combine for roughly 600 passing yards while both have immensely
talented outlets to distribute the rock to.
Once a part of the same staff old buddies will go mano y mano during
this one, coaching on opposite sidelines (Shanahan and McVay). Only one will come out on top, if San Fran loses,
they’re pretty much out of the mix and boarder lined eliminated from playoff
contention. The Rams would technically
still have a chance to make the postseason even if they were to lose, though it
would certainly complicate things further.
Still, this game is perceived as a must-win for both these NFC West
teams. Los Angeles is a +3 underdog as they
hit the road with Levi’s Stadium, their destination. Rams vs. Niners tomorrow night, 8:15 PM ET only
on Amazon Prime Video.
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