San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams Week 16 Predictions

Two hapless NFL teams will play in the Coliseum tomorrow, and it’s sure to enthrall Tennessee Titans fans everywhere. Unfortunately for 49ers and Rams fans, there isn’t much as stake in this week 16 matchup.

But it’s still football - on Christmas Eve. And I’m certain that the Rams will leave us all happy tomorrow. Whether that’s from excessive eggnog consumption or our favorite NFL team actually winning a game remains to be seen. But I digress....

Take a look at what the TST staff had to say about what they think the outcome will be.

RamBuck (@lannyosu)

I think that the Rams have had 10 days to prepare for the Niners, and will be energized in front of a home crowd that is happy Fisher was pushed out. The score should flip.

Rams win 28-0

Eddie Perez (@iAmEddieP_)

20-14 San Francisco. I want to give the Rams this win badly, but knowing this team, im sure they are going to find a way to drop it against the 1-13 49ers.

49ers win 20-14

Elijah Kim (@TST_Eli)

Richard Sherman may have called TNF a "poopfest" but the real "poopfest" is happening this Sunday between the Rams and the 49ers. After San Francisco destroyed the Rams on opening weekend, 28-0, the Rams limp into the game at 4-10 while the 49ers haven't won a game since. In a battle of terrible teams, look for the Rams to win ugly due to a more talented defensive group.

Rams win 13-10

QBKlass (@QBKlass)

The Rams are bad, but the 49ers might be worse! The 49ers defense is historically bad. Their offense has found some life, but the Rams should be able to pull through.

Rams win 20-13

Misone (@MightyOrMisone)

It's pretty simple in my eyes. If Jared Goff plays, they'll lose. If Sean Mannion plays, they'll win.

It was said pre-draft that Goff’s hand size was a problem, well he has fumbled a lot dating back to the preseason. Normally I wouldn't included what happened in the preseason, but something this consistent shows there's a legit problem. He's going to turn it over.

Mannion on the other hand seems to have gotten the game to slow down a lot. And he has a grasp on the offense. And he takes shots down field. My money is on Mannion winning, and if he does he'll likely finish out the season.

Putting together two good games to close the season could make him trade bait. Hope not, cuz they may need him. Then again with good tape, the new coach who has no allegiance to anyone may hold an open competition. Which usually brings out the best in guys.

Sad the season isn't even over and I'm talking about next yr already....

Goff plays, 49ers win 20-9
Mannion plays, Rams win 23-13

Sean Wilkinson (@Papa_Lurch)

To say that both teams are struggling would be a severe understatement. The 49ers have lost 13 straight since stomping the Rams 28-0 in week one while the Rams have lost 9 of 10 in a thoroughly uncompetitive fashion. If the Rams held their first round pick, this game would be much more compelling for all the wrong reasons.

That said, there is still football to be played Saturday. If you go by the Rams recent performances, it's tough to pick them to win. If it was anyone other than the 49ers (OK maybe the Browns too), I'd be predicting another blowout loss for the Rams. They just haven't shown me that they can be competitive with anyone in the second half of the season.

Aside from letting Mark Ingram run rampant, the Rams rush defense has held up relatively well the past few weeks. The issue has been the pass defense - who haven't been able to keep much of anyone in check lately. Even with a beat up group of receivers, I think that the 49ers will be able to take advantage and exploit Rams secondary that is pretty beat up.

As for the Rams offense, counting on them to score more than 15 points at this juncture seems foolish.

49ers win 20-13

(BONUS) David Fucillo from Niners Nation (@davidfucillo)

The 49ers are an underdog, and have failed to cover in all but two games this season. No NFL team in the past 25 years has failed to cover in at least three games. So, either the 49ers are due, or they are historically bad. Betting on someone being due is a sure-fire way to lose money, so I am inclined to go with what the team's past 13 games have shown us. They are not the team that shut down the Rams in Week 1. They have too many issues, and that has only been complicated by injuries. They lacked significant depth before the injuries, and they are now just that much worse off.

Could the 49ers spring an upset? Sure. There's the any given Sunday mantra, and it's not like the Rams are a particularly good team. The key is how the 49ers deal with the Rams defensive front. Carlos Hyde has been the 49ers most effective offensive weapon. How he deals with a still formidable Rams front seven will likely be the difference-maker in this one. The 49ers could still lose, but it will be a tight competitive affair if Hyde can make things happen on the ground.

I think we all really just deserve a tie, but I think we see a moderate shootout in this one. I'll go with something like Rams 27 49ers 17. That puts this game past the OVER, and that's a shootout in my books for two teams like this.

Rams win 27-17