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49ers vs. Rams: Full Week 6 preview, breakdown for San Francisco

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Nickell Robey-Coleman #23 of the Los Angeles Rams is unable to defend against a touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne #84 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Nickell Robey-Coleman #23 of the Los Angeles Rams is unable to defend against a touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne #84 of the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams speaks with head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers following their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams speaks with head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers following their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

49ers vs. Rams: Week 6 by the Numbers

Both Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay stem from the same coaching tree, and both are considered among the top offensive play callers in the league right now.

Not surprisingly, both the Niners and Rams are within the top 10, offensively. San Francisco’s 127 points scored averages out to the No. 2 scoring offense in the NFL, whereas Los Angeles enters the bout having scored 146 points, averaging to sixth best. The 49ers and Rams rank fourth and fifth in all-purpose yards per game, respectively, too.

There are some notable contrasts, though.

Shanahan’s offense has primarily featured the rushing attack, and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo‘s 113 pass attempts rank 30th in this particular category. Meanwhile, the Rams are throwing the ball a lot. Their 222 pass attempts are the most in the NFL through five weeks.

Check out these numbers:

Passing Offense

  • Rams Passing Yards: 1,587 (second)
  • 49ers Passing Yards: 909 (22nd)
  • Rams Pass Yards per Play: 6.9 (ninth)
  • 49ers Pass Yards per Play: 7.7 (fourth)
  • Rams Interceptions Thrown: 7 (seventh)
  • 49ers Interceptions Thrown: 4 (22nd)

Rushing Offense

  • Rams Rushing Yards: 481 (22nd)
  • 49ers Rushing Yards: 800 (first)
  • Rams Rush Yards per Play: 4.2 (16th)
  • 49ers Rush Yards per Play: 5.2 (sixth)

Offensively, both the 49ers and Rams are achieving high numbers, albeit using almost identically opposite approaches to doing so.

Yet a bigger numbers difference comes in on the defensive side of the ball.

The Rams have allowed 134 points on defense this year, which averages out to seventh worst in the league. And they’ve managed just seven defensive takeaways, too, which is tied for 14th.

San Francisco, meanwhile, has 11 defensive takeaways, and that’s tied for third.

No wonder the Niners defense ranks fourth and second in scoring and yards allowed, respectively.