LA Rams At San Francisco 49ers: TST Staff Thursday Night Football Win-Loss Predictions

The Los Angeles Rams will make the trip up The 5 North to take on the San Francisco 49ers in this week’s Thursday Night Football game.

It marks the first time the Rams will face the 49ers - or any NFC West opponent - in the 2017 season. This is probably as good a time as any to remind fans that the 49ers swept the Rams last year. Even worse, the 49ers, over their last 22 games, have gone 3-19. All three wins have come against the Rams.

The Rams opened their 2016 season with a Monday Night Football matchup against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. In embarrassing fashion, the Rams were shutout 0-28 on national TV.

The season never really got much better for the Rams, who had their chance at revenge against the Niners in a home contest in Week 16. The 49ers escaped with a 22-21 victory that day, handing the Rams their sixth straight loss.

But times have changed. Jeff Fisher is now a thing of the past and both teams have brand new, young head coaches looking to right the ship for their respective franchises.

Can Sean McVay & Co. stop the slide against the 49ers and get the team to 2-1 on the season? The Turf Show Times’ staff have their predictions...

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RamBuck (@lannyosu)

The final score will be McBae 69, Shanahan 0. We need to have a NICE game.

Prediction: Rams win, 69-0

Andrew Kulick (@AndrewKulick)

Prediction: Rams win, 100-0

Charlie Hiller (@charliehiller)

Have I ever told you the definition of insanity?

Prediction: Rams win, 20-6

Tevin Broner (@T_Bron)

This game should come down to firepower. The Rams have more weapons on offense. The 49ers offense isn't good. The only thing that worries me is that the Seahawks didn't manhandle the 49ers last week. But the Rams should be able to pull it out

Prediction: Rams win, 17-13

Sergey Konyshev (@thatSergey)

This is a very hard prediction. Honestly. Seriously. First year coaches, both teams have very young rosters, both teams running new offenses/defense, short week, only third game, etc. I’m like a confused, drunk monkey throwing darts at a burning oil drum in hopes of getting a banana.

So far, when McVay says he’s going to fix things, they get fixed (unlike a certain previous, 7-9 BS coach). So, when I hear him say that they’ll fix the running defense, I lean to believe him. Example: game one of preseason, Rams piled up (a SH*T load of) penalties, game two: fixed. I expect the same. SF RBs (especially Hyde) will have a modest game, but nothing terrific. Rams will want to force Brian Hoyer to beat them through the air. I can see Goodwin getting open on a couple deep routes, I hope safety help will be there, but I bet Mo gets caught looking at the RB too much and gets roasted for a deep TD. Goodwin will probably hang on to the catch… If the 49ers’ preseason defense shows-up, it’ll be a sloppy and long game for both sidelines.

Key: McVay and his staff have been great at halftime adjustments (again, unlike a certain previous, 7-9 BS coach). This is basically the reason I give the Rams a small edge in this contest.

Prediction: Rams win, 20-19

Misone (@MightyOrMisone)

Rams are entering the first opportunity to show how well they can bounce back under a new coach. After losing to Washington they get a short week to take on the 49ers. The 49ers are currently in rebuild mode, yet have played some really good defense through the first two weeks of the season. However, the offense has been about what you'd expect: 100% reliant on the run. The pass game has been nonexistent. The issue with that is the Rams’ run defense has been horrible. This could be a recipe for a nightmare for the Rams. On offense they'll have to rely heavily on the arm of Jared Goff as the 49ers have stuffed a lot of runs. With a weakened secondary I'm giving the edge to the Rams but it won't be pretty.

Prediction: Rams win, 20-13

BMule (@_BMule)

I think Carlos Hyde is going to be a problem. A big one for a Rams defense that's vulnerability up the gut dates back long before last week's game. But Hyde won't be enough and Brian Hoyer will get a taste of what Scott Tolzien suffered in week 1. And not that Sammy Watkins needs to make an entrance, but this will be his breakout game for the Rams. San Francisco's defense is tougher than given credit for but Eric Reid being out hurts. Rams get back on the right side of .500 with a win.

Prediction: Rams win, 24-13

Elijah Kim (@Big_EZK)

In the battle of the NFL sons/grandsons, the Rams look to overcome a tough loss in which they found themselves trailing from the getgo. Look for the Rams to try and get on the board first behind Todd Gurley's resurgence and the Goff to Kupp connection. San Francisco will finally get a rushing touchdown whether it be by hook or crook but the Rams play just enough offense to escape with Goff's first road win near his home.

Prediction: Rams win, 21-13

Eric Nagel (@Eric_nagel)

30 is better than 16. Therefore, Rams win. Oh and Jared Goff throws the ball well now. Go points, score runs

Prediction: Rams win, 30-16

Sosa Kremenjas (@SosaNFLDraft)

The Rams get their much needed revenge after going 0-2 vs the 49ers last season. Jared Goff and the offense have a strong game and show the world they're for real, and the defense fixes their mistakes from week 2, for the most part. Expect Carlos Hyde to have a productive game, but I anticipate a good amount of pressure on a very mediocre QB in Brian Hoyer.

Prediction: Rams win, 27-17

joeyaucoin (@LARamsRamsRams)

The 49ers are going to be able to run the ball over the Rams defense, scoring several rushing touchdowns, but Jared Goff will finally set up a big connection with Sammy Watkins.

Prediction: Rams win, 27-24

EddieP (@iAmEddieP_)

The Rams will bounce back after a demoralizing loss. The short week will make it tough, the 49ers will again exploit the Rams soft run defense, but the offense will muster enough to beat the Northern Cali squad.

Prediction: Rams win, 20-13

seattlerams (@seattlerams_nfl)

The Rams and 49'ers have combined for 30 penalties over the first two weeks of the 2017 season. With little rest between games, I look for this trend to continue on Thursday night. The 49'ers average 6.18 yards per carry, and after watching the NFL's top 30 rushing defense last Sunday, I do see the boys from NorCal scoring their first touchdown of the year in this one. With that said, Brian Hoyer is still Brian Hoyer, so I'm taking McBae and Company to win.

Prediction: Rams win, 24-14

Sean Wilkinson (@Papa_Lurch)

Carlos Hyde is going to give the Rams defense fits, but the 49ers situation is much much worse than Kirk Cousins. The Rams prevail and avenge last years ugly primetime loss.

Prediction: Rams win, 27-19

3k (@3k_)

Prediction: Rams win, 30-10

Brandon Bate (@NoPlanB_)

I’m not sure which Rams’ team we’re going to see on Thursday night.

Could we see the Week 1 Rams that dismantled a far inferior opponent, and whose defense didn’t allow the Colts to convert a 3rd down all day while scoring more points than the opposing offense?

Or might we see the Week 2 Rams which, despite a valiant effort to stay in the game for all 60, struggled mightily to stop the run, and made several mental mistakes causing unforced penalties and squandered opportunities to score six?

I don’t know. But I like the direction the Rams’ offense is heading, and I trust enough in Wade Phillips to believe he’ll make the necessary adjustments despite the short week. Gimme the away team in a close one.

Prediction: Rams win, 23-20.

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Sixteen TST staff members participated his this week’s roundtable, and every one of them has the Rams winning on Thursday night.