49ers fortunate to catch struggling Rams at the right time of year

The 49ers desperately need a “get right” game heading into Week 4, and a vulnerable Rams squad presents the opportunity on Monday Night Football.

The San Francisco 49ers want nothing more than to put that ugly 11-10 Sunday Night Football loss to the Denver Broncos in the rearview mirror.

And while that Week 3 defeat that propelled the Niners to a lackluster 1-2 record sheds light on a number of glaring offensive problems head coach Kyle Shanahan has to deal with, one of the best resolutions would be to bounce back in a big way the following week.

A year ago, back when San Francisco was off to a lowly 3-5 start and looking squarely in the face of a lost season, a red-hot Los Angeles Rams squad came to town for a prime-time game, one which the 49ers ultimately dominated by winning 31-10 on Monday Night Football.

History doesn’t always repeat itself, but it’s possible a similar outcome winds up taking place when these two teams square off again on Monday Night Football in Week 4.

Of course, the Niners would love nothing more than to enact some vengeance for what took place last February during the NFC Championship game where LA came from behind to defeat San Francisco, advancing to and ultimately winning the Super Bowl two weeks later. That 49ers loss ended what had been a six-game win streak for Shanahan over Los Angeles, but this upcoming Monday night would be the perfect time to start a new run that favors the Niners.

And it’s possible San Francisco is catching the underperforming Rams at the right time.

49ers can take advantage of ‘Super Bowl hangover’ Rams in Week 4

At 2-1 and in sole possession of first place within the NFC West, LA does seem poised to reclaim the division crown amid the division’s general regression from the powerhouse it was a season ago.

However, not all is right down in Southern California, and it’s worth pointing out that head coach Sean McVay’s squad might be dealing with that proverbial “Super Bowl hangover” most championship teams look to avoid.

Case in point, back in Week 2 against a woeful Atlanta Falcons squad, Los Angeles nearly squandered a 28-3 third-quarter lead, ultimately hanging on to win 31-27 against one of the worst rosters in the NFL.

From an offensive vantage point, the Rams are notably “mid,” having scored 61 points through three weeks, which put them at No. 15 in scoring, and they’re also ranked 18th with an average of 5.3 yards per play.

And those seven turnovers that 49ers Webzone’s Al Sacco pointed out in the tweet above are tied for third most in the NFL through the opening timeframe.

Granted, the Niners have dealt with their own offensive woes this season. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was atrocious in Week 3, and losing All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams to a high-ankle sprain last weekend doesn’t bode well against a Los Angeles pass rush that’ll likely slide All-Pro defensive tackle over to Williams’ fill-in replacement, swing tackle Colton McKivitz, during the game.

However, that might be the only notable defensive disadvantage working against San Francisco.

The 49ers still boast one of the NFL’s best defenses through three weeks, effectively pitching a shutout against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 and allowing only nine of the Broncos’ 11 total points in Week 3, all to the tune of the league’s third-fewest points allowed on the season (37).

In contrast, the Rams aren’t setting any tone, defensively, and enter the contest ranked 20th in that same points-allowed category (70).

49ers hold other potential advantages over Rams for Week 4, too

LA underwent a challenging offseason, yes, highlighted by losing wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and EDGE Von Miller, while also watching offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth retire.

And while adding former Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson was supposed to help absorb the loss of Beckham, his seven catches for 88 yards and a touchdown over three weeks have been notably lackluster.

Getting back to the offensive line, a number of injuries and setbacks have turned this group into a bit of a liability, and Football Outsiders currently ranks Los Angeles’ O-line 22nd in both run blocking and pass protection.

Not exactly a matchup favoring the Rams against a vaunted Niners defensive front seven.

Focusing more on quarterback Matthew Stafford, well, FanSided’s latest quarterbacking power rankings entering Week 4 place him ninth, and his five interceptions thrown over three weeks hinder his otherwise notable 72.5 completion percentage.

San Francisco would like nothing more than to spoil Stafford’s efforts at Levi’s Stadium as it did a year ago when these two teams squared off on Monday Night Football.

And if the 49ers are able to do that, they’ll enjoy a much-needed “get right” game.