Could anyone figure the Rams / Niners games in the 1980s-early 90s??

Niners were always ahead of us in talent but it was always a guess as to the outcome. Look at 1983....We beat them at Frisco 10 to 7. But in Ahaheim, they won 45 to 35. We played them VERY well at Frisco for some reason. But what I could never get was how we'd go toe to toe one game and get SMEARED the next?