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49ers vs. Rams: 5 players who need to step up in Week 6

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Alfred Morris #46 of the San Francisco 49ers gets away from Ndamukong Suh #93 of the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Rams won 48-32. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Alfred Morris #46 of the San Francisco 49ers gets away from Ndamukong Suh #93 of the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Rams won 48-32. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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Robbie Gould #9 of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Kicker Robbie Gould

It isn’t totally his fault. But veteran kicker Robbie Gould‘s three missed field goals from Week 5 are concerning.

True, one was blocked. Kyle Shanahan later told reporters another was the result of a poor snap.

All told, though, Gould is converting on just 58.3 percent of his field-goal tries this season — 28th out of 31 qualifiers, which surely isn’t the kind of result San Francisco was expecting when it signed the usually reliable specialist to his lucrative deal during the offseason.

Here’s why Gould stepping up in Week 6 matters for the 49ers.

Entering the game, the Rams’ scoring differential is plus-2.4 points — right in the middle of the pack at 15th overall. The Niners are sitting happily with a scoring differential of plus-17.5, which ranks second. But if one assumes Los Angeles presents the toughest challenge San Francisco has faced yet this season, combined with the fact this game is on the road, one can see how a mere three points, or a missed field goal at any point in the game, could be vital.

Speaking of three points, Bovada lists the Rams as three-point favorites for this contest.

Field goals matter.