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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 /
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Dec 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) loses a fumble as he gets hit by Los Angeles Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines (33) during the fourth quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) loses a fumble as he gets hit by Los Angeles Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines (33) during the fourth quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

The Ugly

A win is a win, in spite of NFL Draft implications. But the Niners certainly showed why they’re one of the worst teams in the league.

Numerous self-inflicted wounds will continue to haunt head coach Chip Kelly’s prospects for returning to the team in 2017. The Niners committed a total of 11 penalties for 100 yards. And a lot of these fell on the team’s makeshift offensive line.

While the Rams only managed to gain 177 total yards, Los Angeles still managed to merely eclipse San Francisco in time of possession — 31:03 to 28:57.

A lot of this falls on the Niners’ continuing offensive ineptitude, as Eric Branch of SFGate.com pointed out during the game:

Compounding the offensive problems was the season-ending MCL injury suffered by running back Carlos Hyde. He’ll miss the remainder of 2016 but won’t require surgery, per Kelly (h/t 49ers.com).

More from Niner Noise

While the victory ensures San Francisco won’t be a one-win team this year — which would have been a first in franchise history — this season still stinks.

And the Niners have more than a handful of questions to answer this offseason.

Now, the 49ers have to face off against an injury-riddled Seattle Seahawks team in Week 17 to close out the season.

Next: 49ers vs. Rams: Full Week 16 Grades for San Francisco

It doesn’t seem at all likely San Francisco wins back-to-back games this year, so it’s merely going to be yet another game where only pride and next year’s jobs are on the line.