The San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams are in danger of setting football back 30 years when they match up Sunday. They're the two worst scoring offenses in the league, and both of their quarterbacks are struggling mightily at the moment.
49ers vs. Rams 2015 live stream: Game time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Despite relocation rumors, the Rams appear to the more stable team heading into Sunday’s contest.
Though the 3-3 Rams are coming off a victory over the Cleveland Browns and have a chance to be over .500 this late into the season for the first time in nine years, Nick Foles has been a disappointment under center. He's only completed 58.5 percent of his passes this season, and has posted a putrid 44.7 passer rating over the last two weeks. Folks' QB rating this season is 78.8, which would be the lowest of his four-year career.
Those numbers are so bad, even Colin Kaepernick probably has to shake his head. Kaepernick is in the midst of a disastrous campaign, throwing for 1,453 yards with six touchdown passes and five interceptions through seven games this season. But yet, Kaepernick's QB rating nudges out Foles' by roughly four points.
Despite their shared quarterbacking woes, it's easier to see a path to victory for the Rams. Rookie running back Todd Gurley has lived up to expectations since since stepping onto the field in Week 3. In fact, he's become the first St. Louis running back since Eric Dickerson in 1983 to record three straight 100-yard games. Gurley is poised to have another big day against a 49ers rush defense that yielded 176 yards to the Seattle Seahawks last Thursday night. Safety Antoine Bethea, who frequently helped out against the run, has also been lost for the season with a shoulder injury.
Conversely, the Rams' defense continues to roll despite being without Chris Long and Alec Ogletree. They were able to record four sacks against the Browns last week, and should be able to get pressure against Kaepernick -- which he has felt all season long.
Unlike Foles, Kaepernick doesn't have a strong running game that can bail him out. The 49ers' No. 1 running back, Carlos Hyde, is expected to be out multiple weeks with a stress fracture in his foot.
If the offense continues to look lifeless, tensions could boil over in Santa Clara. Some reports indicate they already have. Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer wrote this week Kaepernick is “on an island” in the 49ers’ locker room, and CSN Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco says Kaepernick was “called out” in a team meeting after his listless performance against the Seahawks (Kaepernick completed 13 of 24 passes for a mere 124 yards).
Jim Tomsula can try to downplay the stories all he wants, but it increasingly seems as if the 49ers are spiraling toward not just a lost season, but a humiliating one. The organization has been in turmoil ever since Jim Harbaugh's feud with general manager Trent Baalke hit its boiling po int last season, and the situation doesn't appear to be getting any better.
The Rams are dealing with almost daily reports about their owner’s relocation efforts, yet they appear to be the more stable group heading into Sunday’s contest. Given the wide-open nature of the NFC West, they have every reason to be optimistic as the second half of the season approaches.
How to Watch
When: 1 p.m. ET
Where: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis
Commentators: Dick Stockton, David Diehl, Kristina Pink
TV: FOX
Online: NFL Game Pass
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