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Rams vs. 49ers: 3 ways San Francisco can beat Los Angeles in Week 7

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pierre Garcon #15 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Pierre Garcon #15 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Los Angeles Rams during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 24: Quinton Dial #92 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 24: Quinton Dial #92 of the San Francisco 49ers tackles Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of their game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

No. 1: Pass-Rush Pressure on Rams Quarterback Jared Goff

Easier said than done. Like, way easier.

The 49ers pass rush has been pretty anemic this season, registering 12 sacks on the season — tied for 22nd in the league through six weeks. Pressure itself hasn’t exactly been the problem (and that could be a good thing), but the Niners’ crop of pass-rushers hasn’t exactly done a good job getting home for quarterback takedowns.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Things were slightly better in Week 6 versus the Packers, as San Francisco picked up three sacks on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. And that will have to be an even bigger point of emphasis for the Niners defense with the Rams’ Jared Goff coming to town.

Goff hasn’t shown too many areas of weakness this season. He has been able to hit on all parts of the field, not showing the previous difficulties he used to have throwing outside the numbers.

It helps to have a well-schemed offense, of course, and Sean McVay is as good as any designing a system in which Goff can thrive. And even with one of Goff’s best third-down weapons, second-year slot wideout Cooper Kupp, out for the contest with a leg injury, McVay’s offense is still laden with  more than enough playmakers to move the chains.

Yet there’s a weakness to Goff’s game this season, and of course it deals with facing pressure. According to Pro Football Focus, Goff’s passer rating drops down to 82.9 when facing such pressure, compared to a stellar 118.7 without it.

PFF ranks L.A.’s pass blocking No. 2 in the league, however, so accomplishing this isn’t going to be easy for San Francisco.

But if the 49ers have one of those games where, let’s say, defensive tackles DeForest Buckner and/or Sheldon Day take over on the inside, there’s a chance Goff’s efforts are thrown off just enough to give San Francisco the slightest of chances to thwart the Rams offense.