The 49ers and Rams will face off Monday night for the first time since their NFC championship showdown in January.
Los Angeles got the better of San Francisco that night en route to a Super Bowl win. The Rams were the better team that afternoon, but are they still the better team heading into Week 4 of the 2022 campaign?
The records say yes with LA sitting at 2-1, a game ahead of the 1-2 49ers, but a couple bounces of the ball could easily see those records flipped. To get a better idea of how the Rams look this season, we sat down with the Rams Wire’s John Dillon (shoutout to the homie Cam DaSilva) and asked him some questions about this year’s club.
Niners Wire: How has Matthew Stafford looked this season?
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John Dillon: Stafford has taken a step back from his outstanding 2021 campaign but is still a top-tier starter who can bring Los Angeles another championship. His moxie and gutsiness have come to define the Rams’ offense, and with emerging contributors around him, he should flourish later in the season as he adjusts to his new receiving corps. Interceptions have been an issue for Stafford early in the season, but the team has managed to find success in spite of the costly turnovers. Cooper Kupp has continued to be a rock-solid target for him, and as Stafford continues learning how to most effectively utilize the players around him, his counting stats will likely improve by midseason.
NW: Can anyone besides Aaron Donald rush the QB?
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JD: The All-Pro defensive lineman is certainly the team’s top pass-rusher, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get to opposing quarterbacks. Linebacker Bobby Wagner might not be considered a “pass rusher,” but is tied for Donald for the team lead with two sacks. Interestingly, the team seems to thrive on blitzing linebackers, with four of their seven total sacks coming from the position so far in 2022. In short, Donald is the only premier sack-master, but the Rams can still make things happen in the backfield even if his threat is effectively mitigated.
NW: How’s replacing Andrew Whitworth gone?
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JD: The offensive line has been okay, but not spectacular. Whitworth was an unquestionable leader for the unit, and his presence is sorely missed, though, at this juncture in the season, it is too…
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