Niner Noise
FanSided

49ers vs. Rams: The Good, Bad and Ugly from San Francisco in Week 16

By Peter Panacy

Dec 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) celebrates scoring the game-winning two-point conversion with teammate San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Rod Streater (81) in the 49ers 22-21 win over the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) celebrates scoring the game-winning two-point conversion with teammate San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Rod Streater (81) in the 49ers 22-21 win over the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
December 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) looks for an open man to throw to against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
December 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) looks for an open man to throw to against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

The Bad

Holding the Rams to just 177 yards was an accomplishment. But letting Los Angeles put up 21 unanswered points between the tail end of the first quarter and the first part of the fourth wasn’t a good look.

San Francisco routinely put itself into positions to lose. And one should never count on a 49ers team posting up 15 points late in games regardless of the opponent.

More from SF 49ers News

The Niners were also forced to shake up their offensive line during the game. Rookie John Theus got his first start at right tackle, with second-year tackle Trent Brown shifting over to the left side to take the place of injured Joe Staley (hamstring).

Results were so-so at best. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick was sacked four times, there were numerous penalties on the O-line and the 49ers never got their ground game going.

Running back Carlos Hyde fumbled twice, but a big hit in the fourth quarter resulted in Hyde tearing his MCL. More on that later.

Depending on how one looks at it, the Niners’ win actually hurt the team’s NFL Draft chances. Had San Francisco lost — and paired with the Cleveland Browns’ win last weekend — the 49ers would have held the No. 1 pick in the draft, based on strength of schedule.

Instead, the Niners remain in the No. 2 slot. And don’t count on the Browns winning again in Week 17.