2012-2016- The Fisher Era

Week 6 NFC West Preview: Rams and 49ers face off on Monday night

Once again the NFL has proved that what happens at the start of the season doesn’t matter as much as at the end of the season, and there is still plenty of football left to be played. Last week, the Arizona Cardinals were stampeded back to reality courtesy of the Denver Broncos, the St. Louis Rams dug a 10-foot hole and brought only nine feet to work with against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers are reminding the league that they are alive and kicking.

Dallas Cowboys @ Seattle Seahawks: The Cowboys come into Week 6 riding a four-game winning streak, the most recent victory over the state rival Houston Texans. Their sole loss came against another NFC West appoint – the San Francisco 49ers. Now the Cowboys must travel to CenturyLink Field in an attempt to extend their winning streak to five games. I don’t like their odds.

Two of the best rushing offenses in the league will square off, but the difference between the two teams is that the Seahawks also have the best rushing defense in the NFL, only allowing an average of 62.3 yards per game. While running back DeMarco Murray has bailed out the Cowboys all season, quarterback Tony Romo and the passing offense will need to attack the Seahawks secondary. Romo will need to find other receivers, because wide receiver Dez Bryant will most likely be covered all game by cornerback Richard Sherman. The key to this game is how well the Cowboys’ defense can contain running back Marshawn Lynch, but chances are he will run through them like a knife through butter.

Prediction: 35-27, Seahawks.

Washington Redskins @ Arizona Cardinals: Well I bought into the Cardinals’ hype and predicted that they can walk out of Denver with a win over the Broncos. Lesson learned. Still, it goes without saying that the Cardinals are a good football team. In order for the Redskins to have a chance in this game, they will need to air the ball out as well as Peyton Manning did.

One thing is certain: the Cardinals hope to have Carson Palmer back soon. Drew Stanton couldn’t do much of anything last week, completing 11 passes on 26 attempts for 118 yards. He left the game early due to injury and his replacement, rookie Logan Thomas, did not play any better. He completed only one of his eight passes, though it was an 81-yard touchdown pass to running back Andre Ellington. It may be daunting for the Cardinals to ask their rookie quarterback Thomas to start against an underrated Redskins defense, but they may not have a choice if Palmer or Stanton aren’t healthy enough to compete.

Prediction; 24-21, Cardinals.

San Francisco 49ers @ St. Louis Rams: The Rams, for the second straight game, had a chance to win late in the fourth quarter, but their lack of discipline beat them both times. If the Rams would just follow the fundamentals of the game, there is no reason they don’t win against the Eagles or the Cowboys. Now they must focus their attention on the 49ers, which is a team that always brings an interesting matchup.

It’s hard to believe, but the Rams are the best in the league in least passing yards allowed (192.3 ypg), but they are among the league’s worst on rushing defense, allowing 152.5 yards per game. The 49ers’ strategy should be to limit quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s production in terms of passing and keep the ball on the ground. Running back Frank Gore has done well against the Rams in his career, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have Kaepernick running the ball too.

If the Rams are going to have any chance in this game, they must be able to move the ball against one of the best defensive units in the NFL. If quarterback Austin Davis can move the ball efficiently, and if the receivers will limit the dropped passes, this could be a close game.

Prediction: 31-24, 49ers.

Source: ESPN.com

You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.

 

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