49ers vs. Rams presents perfect chance for San Francisco to bounce back

The 49ers are reeling from being demolished by the Chiefs, but the scheduling presents an immediate chance to bounce back against the old-foe Rams.

We don’t need to relive too much of what happened last Sunday, but the San Francisco 49ers’ 44-23 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs is one that has fans and pundits alike fully doubting the Niners’ Super Bowl credentials.

Despite the fact that San Francisco was finally getting healthier and the excitement was swirling around the 49ers’ debut of running back Christian McCaffrey, head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad was comprehensively beaten down in the second half.

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For the first time, the narrative isn’t around how banged up the Niners are, but how good the team even is. The Chiefs are obviously a Super Bowl contender, and to lose at home in a blowout to them doesn’t bode well on paper.

Admittedly, this has been a testing season for San Francisco and its fans. Injuries haven’t helped the cause, as the team has been very hot and cold, and this loss is the latest hammer blow.

But not all is lost.

49ers love having bounce-back games against the Rams

The 49ers have the perfect chance to bounce back over hated foes, the Los Angeles Rams. A strong win over them this upcoming Sunday would not only give the Niners the regular-season sweep but would also make Sunday just a distant memory.

The Rams are facing their own problems, too, as they still reel from their Super Bowl hangover. San Francisco already beat the Rams 24-9 at Levi’s Stadium earlier this season, so Shanahan and Co. already have the psychological edge on them.

It’s true the 49ers are unlikely to have fullback Kyle Juszczyk for the game after he required surgery on his finger, but the team could welcome back defensive tackle Arik Armstead. In the circumstances, that seems like a fair trade given the defense has to make sure it’s firing on all cylinders.

This team is too good to be this bad, and luckily for the Niners, the NFC West is no longer the heavyweight division of the NFL. The Seattle Seahawks may have taken over first place, but it’s hardly a herculean task to take it back.

It’s natural to be disappointed by last Sunday, but all the 49ers have to do is take care of their hated rivals to get back up again. It’s a knockdown, but not a knockout.