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

No. 2: 49ers Interior Pass Protection Holds

Let’s flip the script.

Perhaps the only way San Francisco contains Jared Goff is to put pressure on him. But that’s an equally important task for the 49ers’ own pass blockers to do for their quarterback, C.J. Beathard.

Per Pro Football Focus, Beathard’s passer rating when facing pressure is a lowly 65.6 despite him having arguably the best game of his pro career last week versus the Packers. And while PFF ranked the Rams’ crop of pass blockers No. 2 in the league, the Niners come into this contest ranked 19th.

There is some good news, however.

Three of San Francisco’s five starting offensive linemen — Joe Staley, Laken Tomlinson and Mike McGlinchey — all made PFF’s Team of the Week after their efforts in Green Bay:

And San Francisco also climbed all the way to No. 6 in PFF’s O-line power rankings too.

Granted, the Rams have a bit more thump up front than the Packers, particularly along the interior where defensive tackles Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh pose serious threats to the Niners inside pass blockers.

The Rams get by without having a serious edge-rushing threat because of this tandem, which could arguably be the best in football right now.

If the 49ers want to keep Beathard upright and effective, the offensive line will have to have one of its best games of 2018.