Rams vs. 49ers: 6 matchups to watch in Week 18

[theramswire.usatoday.com] Rams vs. 49ers: 6 matchups to watch in Week 18


Cameron DaSilva
January 6, 2022 11:34 am PT


The Rams and 49ers will renew their rivalry on Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium, the final game of the regular season for both teams. The Rams have already guaranteed one playoff game, but the 49ers could use a win in order to secure their postseason berth, too.

Having won five in a row against the Rams, the 49ers come into this one feeling confident, despite questions about who will start at quarterback due to Jimmy Garoppolo’s thumb injury. The Rams would love to snap their losing streak to San Francisco, and in order to do so, they must win these individual matchups.

1
Jalen Ramsey vs. Deebo Samuel
According to Pro Football Focus, Ramsey wasn’t in coverage on any of the passes that were thrown Samuel’s way in Week 10. In fact, Ramsey was only targeted twice in the game and didn’t give up a single reception. Samuel caught all five of his targets in the game, gaining 97 yards and one touchdown, once again putting up impressive numbers against the Rams.

He’s being utilized more as a running back now, which is likely to cause Ramsey to line up in the slot often. That’s a good thing for the Rams because there isn’t a better slot defender against the run and pass than Ramsey. Having him on the edge should help contain Samuel on Sunday.


2
Rob Havenstein vs. Nick Bosa
Bosa rushed the quarterback 36 times in Week 10 against the Rams, registering four pressures and one sack, which was his only tackle of the game. All things considered, the Rams did a good job against Bosa, limiting the 49ers’ top pass rusher.

Havenstein and Andrew Whitworth will both need to keep that up on Sunday because Bosa is by far the 49ers’ best defender. He has 15 sacks, which is nine more than their next-closest player. If the Rams can block Bosa, Stafford shouldn’t be under much pressure this weekend. The 49ers aren’t exactly rich with pass rushers.


3
Von Miller vs. Trent Williams
Williams might be the best offensive lineman in the NFL right now, allowing just 16 pressures and one sack all season. He has a 98.2 overall grade at Pro Football Focus, by far the highest of any offensive lineman. Miller will probably line up as the right outside linebacker throughout Sunday’s game, though he and Leonard Floyd do rotate from side to side.

Miller has been heating up for the Rams this season, recording two sacks against the Ravens to go along with four stops. He and Floyd have made for a quality tandem on the edge, but Sunday’s game against Williams will require him to be at his best against a future Hall of Famer.


4
Troy Reeder vs. George Kittle
On Kittle’s six targets against the Rams in Week 10, zero of them came with a safety in coverage. Troy Reeder and Ernest Jones were in coverage on half of those targets, showing the Rams preferred to use a linebacker instead of someone like Jordan Fuller or Taylor Rapp on the outstanding tight end.

With Jones out, Reeder could be the primary defender on Kittle when the 49ers throw the ball. That’s a serious mismatch that favors the 49ers, so the Rams will need to find a way to cover Kittle with more than just one linebacker.

Kittle is averaging 13.6 yards per catch and caught five passes for 50 yards with one touchdown against the Rams in Week 10.

5
Aaron Donald vs. Laken Tomlinson
The 49ers have done a good job against Donald in the last two seasons, limiting him to just one sack and three tackles for a loss in his last three games. It takes more than one lineman to block the all-world defensive tackle, and the 49ers have found a formula to limit Donald as a pass rusher.

Tomlinson will see more of Donald than the 49ers’ other linemen, being the starting left guard, but he’ll get help from center Alex Mack and possibly Williams at left tackle. Donald is going to get doubled regardless and he typically finds ways to still pressure the quarterback, but this isn’t the easiest matchup for him.

6
Cooper Kupp vs. K’Waun Williams
Williams is currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list, so it’s not even certain he’ll play. But assuming he’s activated in time, he’ll be the primary defender on Kupp, who is attempting to break the single-season receiving record.

In their first meeting, Kupp caught all seven targets when covered by Williams, gaining 60 yards and picking up two first downs. It wasn’t a good day for the 49ers cornerback, and with Kupp in pursuit of multiple records, he could see a heavy dose of targets on Sunday.