Rams-49ers Saturday Confidence Thread

Throw 2018’s results out the window. Throw 2019’s results out the window. The 2020 LA Rams and 2020 San Francisco 49ers are not the same teams they were in their most recent matchups.

Though I could be wrong also, it’s happened before. These teams are not all that different than the two teams that made the Super Bowls in 2018 and 2019.

Rams-49ers is no less Sean McVay vs Kyle Shanahan than it was before. It is no less Jared Goff vs Jimmy Garoppolo. It is no less Aaron Donald vs the 49ers offensive line. It is less Nick Bosa and Richard Sherman than it was last season. But defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, linebacker Fred Warner, pass rusher Arik Armstead and safeties Jimmie Ward and Jaquiski Tartt are several of many names on defense who don’t believe they’re any less capable of shutting down LA’s offense without one or two key starters.

The Rams are 4-1, but they’ve also notched all four of those wins against an NFC East division that is a combined 4-15-1.

The 49ers are a combined 2-3 and neither of their wins came against a team that has a win. But San Francisco finally has running back Jerick McKinnon as a weapon, Raheem Mostert could be a top-three player a his position in the NFC, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are all reportedly healthy enough to play. If the 49ers lose, then perhaps that is when the NFL starts believing that San Francisco has reverted to their 2018 selves.

But between now and Sunday night’s game on NBC, the 49ers shouldn’t be considered harmless. Unless that is how you feel. How do you feel?