49ers vs. Rams: 5 vital matchups to watch in Week 4 on Monday night

The 49ers host the Rams on Monday Night Football in Week 4, and it’s safe to say these five matchups will play a crucial role in the game’s outcome.

The 1-2 San Francisco 49ers could use a “get right game,” much like they needed one a year ago after an ugly 3-5 start to the year and with the visiting Los Angeles Rams coming to town for a primetime showdown.

Fans may recall, the Niners won that game in dominant fashion, wrecking their NFC West rivals 31-10, and a similar result in Week 4 on Monday Night Football would surely help ease the pain still stemming from San Francisco’s Week 3 offensive disaster against the Denver Broncos.

Plus, with the visiting Rams boasting a 2-1 record, a Monday night victory for the 49ers would boost them into first place within the division.

As is the case with any game, though, Monday’s contest will be about matchups and how the Niners can either exploit favorable ones or minimize the risk with ones that lean in Los Angeles’ favor.

Here are five that’ll be notably important when these two rivals square off to close out Week 4.

49ers vs. Rams matchup No. 5: LA rushing game vs. SF run defense

The Rams’ ground attack hasn’t exactly gotten off to a strong start this season, averaging a lowly 3.4 yards per carry. And despite head coach Sean McVay shifting his balance in favor of the pass this year (102 pass attempts compared to 64 rushes), the run game is still vital to whatever offensive success he’ll want to have.

Both of LA’s running backs, Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson Jr., have nearly split duties right down the middle with 30 and 27 carries, respectively, yet Henderson’s 4.1 yards per attempt stand slightly better than Akers’ 3.5.

Either way, San Francisco appears to have the edge in this particular matchup, entering the contest having allowed a mere 2.8 yards per carry, which is tied for second best in the NFL through three weeks.

Forcing quarterback Matthew Stafford into more unfavorable passing situations because of an inept rushing attack might be exactly what the 49ers want to do, leading to the next matchup to watch.