LA Rams must end 49ers QB Garoppolo 3-0 winning streak

The LA Rams must end 49ers QB Garoppolos winning streak against them while he is shaken and confused

The LA Rams have not had much success against San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.  Well, success in terms of winning games. You see, Garoppolo has won every game against the LA Rams that he has played so far.  He is 3-0, despite throwing for only three touchdowns and five interceptions.

The San Francisco 49ers were successful against most teams in 2019.  After all, a 13-3 record is very impressive, and it tied the LA Rams record from the previous season. Garoppolo was not asked to do much for the 49ers, simply manage the offense well enough to allow the potent running game and the defense to do their jobs.  While 2019 was his sixth NFL season, it was his first season as a 16 game starter.

Super Bowl slump

Now he is playing in the season after his Super Bowl appearance, and the sledding is far more difficult. In three starts this season, he is just 1-2.  His interception rate is up, and his yards per attempt has declined.  His quarterback rating is flirting with a career-low, and he is facing the LA Rams after being benched against the Miami Dolphins at halftime for poor performance.

Now he will take the field against the LA Rams after a poor showing. Don’t expect the LA Rams to take it easy on him.

In their first game facing the San Francisco 49ers in 2019, the 49ers sacked Goff four times, held the Rams passing game in check by allowing just 13 of 24 passes completed for an abysmal 78 yards. Now the shoe is on the other foot. Now it’s the 49ers who have shown vulnerability. And now, it’s the Rams arriving to put the 49ers a little deeper into the hole.

Different outcome

The LA Rams got Garoppolo this time. After all, the Rams nearly had him in their second meeting in 2019. In that game, Garoppolo threw for 16 of 27 passes for 248 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The Rams sacked him six times.  In the end, the battered Rams were battered once more by bad luck and lost 34-31.  Of course, things have changed since that game.

The LA Rams offensive line is healthy. The LA Rams secondary is relatively healthy. And the Rams are winning games this year. But most of all, the Rams are finding new ways to win games in 2020, while the 49ers have already matched their loss total for 2019.  This is not the LA Rams of 2019. The Rams have energized both the offense and defense with new coordinators Kevin O’Connell and Brandon Staley. And the Dolphins exposed the 49ers team for what it truly is right now – a team that must play with the lead.

This is a game that the Rams must win decisively. Not saving something for later. Now the Rams must unload Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and the Rams defense to smother the 49ers once and for all. At 2-4, the San Francisco 49ers are all but out of the NFC Playoff picture. At 3-3, they are still very much in it.