49ers Vs. Rams: Random Stats

The San Francisco 49ers welcome the St. Louis Rams to town on Sunday with a chance to clinch the NFC West against one of their truly long time rivals. The 49ers and Rams have been squaring off since 1950 with the Rams holding a 61-60-2 record against the 49ers. The Rams won the most recent game last December in St. Louis, snapping a five game 49ers winning streak. The 49ers dominated the series from 1990 to 1998, but there have been extended stretches of dominance by both teams.

Now we get to see if the 49ers can reassert their dominance over the Rams. The 49ers are 13-point favorites for a reason, but they still have to come in and back up the hype. While the 49ers defense continues to play well, the offense will need to come up with ways to move the ball. If Adam Snyder has to sit, it only raises the degree of difficulty.

Football Outsiders released their DVOA ratings following week 12 and the 49ers dropped from No. 4 to No. 8. The 49ers are 20th on offense, 6th on defense and 2nd on special teams. They face a Rams team that is scuffling along and looking for some kind of spark. They rank 32nd on offense, 22nd on defense and 26th on special teams. Patrick Peterson's punt return touchdown did not help that special teams rank.

The Rams have actually been fairly solid against the pass, but rank 31st against the run. This might be due in part to teams running out big leads on them. I suspect we'll see the 49ers do everything they can to establish the run all day long on Sunday.

The Rams will do their best to establish the run as well with Steven Jackson having another solid season. The two biggest weapons the 49ers will be dealing with are Jackson and old friend Brandon Lloyd. In six games with the Rams, Brandon Lloyd has caught 31 passes for 396 yards and four touchdowns. Oh, and of course he has at least one crazy, ridiculous catch each week. It will be an interesting matchup when Brandon Lloyd is back in town on Sunday.

• The 49ers have become the first team since the 1928 Providence Steamrollers to not allow a rushing TD through the first 11 games of the season. The current 11-game streak to not allow a rushing TD ranks t-1st in the NFL since 1970 for the most consecutive games not allowing a rushing TD at any point in a single season.
• RB Frank Gore (7,323 yds.) needs 22 rushing yds. to pass 49ers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Perry (7,344) for the most rushing yds. in franchise history.
• The 49ers defense has not allowed a TD in the first half in each of the past 5 games, which is the longest streak in franchise history and the most in the NFL since the Dallas Cowboys had 5 consecutive games in 2008.
• Since December 1, 2010, San Francisco has a winning pct. of .875 (7-1) at home, ranking t-2nd with New England [.875 (7-1)] for the highest home winning pct. in the NFL, behind only Green Bay [1.000 (8-0)].

NO RUSH

• The 49ers have become the first team since the 1928 Providence Steamrollers to not allow a rushing TD through the first 11 games of the season. The current 11-game streak to not allow a rushing TD ranks t-1st in the NFL since 1970 for the most consecutive games not allowing a rushing TD in a single season.

SHUT DOWN IN THE FIRST

• The 49ers defense has not allowed a TD in the first half in each of the past 5 games, which is the longest streak in franchise history and the most in the NFL since the Dallas Cowboys had a 5 game stretch in 2008.

THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE

• The 49ers have outscored their opponents 262-161. The +101 scoring differential ranks 4th in the NFL.

A SHORT FIELD

• The 49ers have started 25 drives in their opponents territory, ranking 1st in the NFL, and have scored 81 points on those drives, ranking 3rd in the NFL.

YOU WANNA START SOMETHING?

• The 49ers average starting field position is at their own 32.4-yard line, ranking 1st in the NFL.

LONG WAY TO GO

• The 49ers rank 1st in the NFL with an opponents average starting field position of the 24.8.

BRINGING IT BACK

• The 49ers rank t-1st in the NFL with 7 PRs of 20+ yds, while ranking 3rd in the NFL with a KOR avg. of 28.4 yds.

POINTS HARD TO COME BY

• The 49ers have allowed just 161 points on the season, ranking 1st in the NFL for the fewest points allowed.

SHORT AND TOUGH

• The 49ers have allowed just 16 first downs on 3rd and less than 4 yds. (16 of 35 - 45.7 pct.), ranking 2nd in the NFL.

EFFICIENCY ON D

• The 49ers defense has allowed opponents to score on just 25.2 pct. of their possessions, ranking 1st in the NFL.