49ers vs Rams Preview: What to watch for Week 3
Sep 21, 2024, 12:07 PM | Updated: Sep 22, 2024, 11:41 am
Harry How/Getty Images
Week 2 was a tough one for the 49ers, dropping their eight-straight game in Minnesota to the Vikings. Now all they can do is reflect, and hopefully rebound, with a trip to SoCal to see the Rams.
The San Francisco 49ers travel to Inglewood for a showdown with their divisional rival, Los Angeles Rams, in Week 3. After getting the better of them on both occasions in 2023, the Red & Gold will look to do so again against a very depleted Rams squad.
But, never count coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford out, always looking to put points in the board.
Can the 49ers rebound from a Week 2 upset? Or, will LA finally get a big win over their NFC West rivals? Here’s what to watch for Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
How will Brock Purdy play without his playmakers?
It’s only Week 3 of the 2024 season, and the 49ers are down bad with injuries.
Already down Christian McCaffrey for the foreseeable future, the Red & Gold lost Deebo Samuel to a calf strain following Week 2’s loss. And to make matters worse, George Kittle is unlikely to suit up after popping up on the injury report Thursday with hamstring tightness.
So to recap, the 49ers are down their star running back, wide receiver and tight end for Week 3. Ouch.
With so many injuries across the board, now the question is: How will Brock Purdy perform?
It’s no secret that the 49ers have a loaded roster, one that only heightens the ability of their young quarterback. Because of that however, Purdy has been lambasted, often called a product of coach Kyle Shanahan’s system.
But now in Year 3, with a depleted core, Purdy has a chance to turn the page on that narrative. Obviously, he’d want his guys out there with him. But, the Arizona native is up for the challenge of once again proving the naysayers wrong and winning with who he’s got on the field.
“Yeah, obviously it sucks not having your guys and stuff,” Purdy stated Thursday. “But man, we’ve got playmakers. I’ve said that before. We’ve got a really good scheme, great play caller and some great players that step up in the roles and do their job really well. So for me, I still have to do my job, in terms of my reads and my progressions…That’s the challenge for me, is how can I continue to be better with my progressions and as a quarterback and handling situations, being as efficient as I can regardless of who is in. That’s where my mindset is at with this game.”
Additionally, Purdy is coming off a loss in Week 2. Not only that, he lost to his former backup Sam Darnold.
The 49ers’ offense struggled to get into a rhythm thanks to Brian Flores’ blitz-first defense. The QB was sacked six times, as the offensive line got beat across the board last Sunday.
But, the QB carries the weight of the team on his shoulders. It was not a great day at the office for Purdy, costing his team with two turnovers.
His numbers say otherwise, leading the NFL in passing yards after two weeks (550).
There’s more to playing the position than just racking up yards though, it’s about playing efficiently. That’s something Purdy will admit he has to improve on this season, with the Vikings forcing him into tough spots last week.
Purdy always offers thought provoking answers. #49ers pic.twitter.com/4cxHTkeGjk
— Larry Krueger (@sportslarryk) September 21, 2024
“I would say so. There were a couple of plays where I dropped back and for me I just wasn’t on top of my progressions and getting off certain reads and holding onto the ball a little bit in certain situations and plays. That’s where I had to be better,” he said.
“It’s football, you’re not always going to be perfect. There’s some plays like that, that are going to happen. But for me, I think it happened more than I wanted it to. I have to learn from it and grow from it.”
Week 3 of the 2024 season could be a benchmark for Brock Purdy and his future.
The former Mr. Irrelevant is in line for a massive extension after this season. But how much money are we really talking? $40 million, $50, even $60 annually for Purdy?
All of that could be determined with how he performs without his squad at full strength.
“If there was ever a window of opportunity for Brock Purdy to break a lot of the narrative attached to his name, that he is just a coattail rider, it is gonna be this window right now for Brock Purdy,” former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky said this week.
The next few weeks could be everything for the Iowa State alum. And if there’s one thing we know he loves to do, it’s prove the critics wrong when his back is against the wall.
“Since he’s been here all he’s done is prove himself right and a lot of doubters wrong,” 49ers general manager John Lynch said Friday on KNBR.
A few things that are ELITE about Brock Purdy already:
Accountability
Leadership
Attitude
CharacterImpossible not to like the young man. pic.twitter.com/BSnNvv7i8J
— Ryan G Hensley (@ryanghensley) September 20, 2024
Stop 3rd and Long; Convert on 3rd Down
Let’s be frank: The 49ers suck on third down, both on offense and defense.
Week 2 against the Vikings was a prime example, going for 2/10 on third-down conversions. On the flip side, the defense allowed Minnesota to go 7/12 on third-down conversions.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that those aren’t winning metrics for a football team.
The #49ers offense on 3rd down today: 2/10
The #49ers defense on 3rd down today: 7/12No matter how much talent you have, you’re not winning football games with those metrics.
— Amiliano “Amil” Fragoso (@AmilianoFragoso) September 15, 2024
This has been a growing trend for the Red & Gold the last few seasons however, more so defensively than anything else. How many times did The Faithful see their defense stand tall for two downs, and then give up a 10-plus-yard gain on a screen pass on third down last season?
Too many times is the answer.
The 49ers have allowed the second-worst conversion rate in third down this season, and the worst on 3rd & 7 or more.
Small sample but #49ers defensive struggles on third down are especially glaring on third and long.
3rd down conversion rate allowed — 59.1% (31st in NFL)
3rd and 7+ yards — 72.7% (32nd in NFL)
3rd down success rate — 40.9% (31st)
3rd and long success rate — 27.3% (32nd)— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) September 19, 2024
This has to change if the 49ers’ defense wants to be successful in 2024, especially considering the teams they’ll have to face week-in and week-out.
“Any time you’re not having success, you first look at yourself,” 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said Thursday. “I know our players do. I know I do. All of our coaches do. So me personally, I’m like, what can I do better? And then it’s always a combination of things. Is it plan, is it execution? And we’ve just got to be tighter, bottom line, in all of it.”
The 49ers will have a chance to correct some of those defensive woes this weekend against a depleted Rams’ offense. Both star wideouts Cooper Kupp and Puka Nucua will not play. However, we’ve seen QB Matthew Stafford do the most with very little.
If the Red & Gold want to rebound in Week 3, they’ll need to keep Stafford on his toes early and often. That not only means tightening up the secondary, but also getting home with the pass rush.
Otherwise, it’ll be another long day at the office if Stafford is dialed in.
a fun game of “how many defenders are actually rushing the QB and which ones exactly are they”
49ers were 23% successful on 3rd/4th down, partially because of Brian Flores pic.twitter.com/SQwd4ueOqt
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) September 17, 2024
The Tongan Tiger’s Return
Speaking of secondary, the 49ers will be getting one of their leaders back in Talanoa Hufanga this week.
After tearing his ACL Week 11 last season, The Tongan Tiger will make his 2024 season debut against the Rams, albeit on likely snap count. Regardless, the 49ers are in desperate need of more help over the top after getting beat by star WR Justin Jefferson a week ago for a 97-yard touchdown.
But Hufanga is much more than just help, he’s one of the team’s spritual leaders on defense. Who, at his peak, his one of the best in the NFL.
“He’s an All-Pro player,” Sorensen stated. “He is someone with a lot of experience. He’s got great energy, he’s a great communicator, he flies around the field, he makes plays. You get a complete player and I think he’s really excited too.”
10 months away from the field is a long time though. The expectation for his first game back isn’t to be lights out, as the 49ers will seemingly continue to work him into fold. But, Hufanga has prepared his mind for the game of football more than ever, using the time away to better understand how to decode offenses in split seconds.
And after calling his 2022 breakout season “mediocre”, it’s safe to say that a new, and improved version of “Huf” should be expected in due time.
“Even plays that I had made. It’s like, how can I be better on those? Why’d it take me three times to see the same play?” the safety explained. “And it happens across the league, I’m not saying I’m the only person. But, I like to hold myself to that standard. If I seen the play twice already, why’d it take me the third time [to make a play]?
“And so that’s part of us learning and growing and coming together as a defense to be the best we can be.”
The mental preparation over the past several months has not only allowed Hufanga to slide back into football seamlessly, but also shown his coaches that he’s ready to take an even bigger step in his development.
“It’s like he hasn’t missed a beat,” Sorensen said.
But again, he will be on a snap count for the time being. The 49ers will look to rotate him with veteran George Odum, and rookie Malik Mustapha on the back end. Talanoa Hufanga starting Week 3 is also an option, but Shanahan gave no hints as to how it will play out on Sunday.
“We’ll play it out as it goes. He’s prepared for the game and we’ll keep an eye on him throughout it and see each series how it works out,” the coach said.
Score Prediction: 49ers 24, Rams 14
49ers Week 3 Injury Report
OUT:
WR Deebo Samuel (calf)
Doubtful:
TE George Kittle (hamstring)
Questionable:
CB Charvarius Ward (hamstring, knee), DE Nick Bosa (rib)
2024 Season Debuts: S Talanoa Hufanga, LB Dee Winters
San Francisco 49ers 2024 Schedule:
Regular Season
- Sunday, September 22nd – @ Los Angeles Rams – 1:25 pm PDT
- Sunday, September 29th vs. New England Patriots – 1:05 pm PDT
- Sunday, October 6th vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 pm PDT
- Thursday, October 10th @ Seattle Seahawks [TNF] – 5:15 pm PDT
- Sunday, October 20th vs. Kansas City Chiefs [SB LVIII Rematch]– 1:25 pm PDT
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