St. Louis Rams @ San Francisco 49ers Preview, Game Time, and Channel Info

The St. Louis Rams are gearing up for an intense matchup against the division rival San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. This will be the last meeting between these two teams at Candlestick before the 49ers move to Levi’s Stadium next season.

This game will be played in the late set of games at 3:05 CT on FOX. You can also catch the radio broadcast of the game using NFL mobile or nfl.com audio pass.  You can also catch the video broadcast of the game on channel 712 with DIRECTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket package or at a later time on nfl.com Game Rewind.

The Rams come into the game having upset two teams with high playoff hopes in the Colts and Bears. In fact the Rams didn’t just beat those two teams, they blew them out. The Rams have seemed to have gotten hot and found their identity at the right time.

At  5-6, the Rams will be looking to get back to .500 for the first time since week 6. The Rams also sit two games out of the sixth playoff. Winning this game against the 49ers, a team ahead of them, would go a long ways.

The 49ers come in having just blowing out the Washington Redskins on Monday Night Football after a two game skid. The 49ers atop the race for the sixth and final playoff spot, a win against the Rams would surely take a team below them out of the race.

The 49ers however are getting healthy at the right time as Aldon Smith has returned to the team, and this week against the Rams will be the 2013 debut for wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

The injury report for both teams goes as follows:

Rams

G Harvey Dahl (knee): Questionable

S T.J. McDonald (Shin): Questionable

CB Brandon McGee (Foot): Questionable

LG Chris Williams (Head): Probable

CB Trumaine Johnson (Head): Probable

RB Zac Stacy (Head): Probable

LB Will Witherspoon (Non-Injury related): Probable

San Francisco 49ers

G Mike Iupati (knee): Out

CB Tarell Brown (ribs): Out

LB Ahmad Brooks (stinger): Questionable

TE Garrett Celek (hamstring): Questionable

DT RayMcDonald (ankle): Questionable

WR Quinton Patton (foot): Questionable

LB Aldon Smith (shoulder): Questionable

LB NaVorro Bowman (knee, shoulder): Probable

RB Frank Gore (ankle): Probable

WR Mario Manningham (knee): Probable

LB Dan Skuta (foot): Probable

DT Justin Smith (shoulder): Probable

Players To Watch: Frank Gore and Zac Stacy

The last time these two teams played, Frank Gore had a coming out party: 2013 edition against the Rams, rushing for 153 yards and one touchdown, while the Rams only rushed for 22 yards.

A lot has changed since then however, as the Rams have found Zac Stacy to give a spark to the now 16th ranked rushing attack. Stacy has been the main guy in this offense since week 5 and has made the most of every play.

Frank Gore on the other hand has only rushed for over 100 yards once since the Rams game and has only rushed for 79 yards in the past two weeks combined.

The team that comes out on top in this one will be the team who rushed the ball the most successfully. Look for both teams to come out and try to stop the run early.

Matchup To Watch: Rams Secondary vs Anquan Boldin

In the first meeting this season, Anquan Boldin had his coming out party of 2013 as well having five receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown. When the 49ers passing game struggles, Kaepernick seems to go to Boldin. Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson will need to make Boldin a non-factor

Last Meeting: 49ers 31 Rams 11

These two teams met earlier this season and the 49ers dominated much of the game taking the run away and forcing the Rams to throw the ball and make mistakes. On the big plays the 49ers came out on top and came out with the win.

These two teams are 1-1-1 in their past three meetings, and if it’s one thing that is almost for certain, its that this game will be a close one, as these games usually are, and the Rams have lost their last two games by one score.

Prediction: Rams 16 49ers 12

This is going to be very low scoring, and a very defensive game. I believe the Rams defense will play like they did against the Seahawksand shut down Kaepernick and the Seahawks. A Zac Stacy touchdown proves to be enough to get the Rams back at .500

This game has major playoff implications on it, if the Rams win their playoff hopes stay alive and the 49ers are put in a difficult situation, if the 49ers win they will separate themselves from the pack going into the final quarter of the season. As always, go Rams!