Tomorrow's Rams at 49ers contest isn't exactly a preview of the NFC title game. It's not even a preview of a good game. Both of these teams enter the game at 2-7 and just thinking about the results has me thinking this was actually an XFL game. The playoff successes, the Super Bowls, the excitement of the very next game... all of that is long gone for both of these NFC West Bottom Dwellers. Sure, the Rams-49ers rivalry has been epic in the past but the only thing these teams have in common before tomorrow's game is the fact that they both changed head coaches in-season and that Isaac Bruce has both played for them.
Mike Singletary is 0-2 since taking over for the fired Mike Nolan and the ridiculous ending to last Monday Night's loss vs the Cardinals are still fresh in 49er fans minds. With 2 seconds left they handed the ball off to back up running back Michael Robinson. Robinson was easily stuffed and Arizona walked away with a 4 game lead in the division. Regardless of all the drama following that loss, the blame of the spot, or even Mike Nolan taking a shot at his former team for not knowing where the ball was, the fact remains. With that little amount of time left in a game you give it to your best player, of course which was Frank Gore certainly not Robinson. Never mind that loss as the 49ers are looking to end this 6 game losing streak and improve upon the things they showed last week. In all honesty I believed the 49ers would be crushed, Warner would have over 400 yards passing and Singletary would drop his pants again attempting to distract the Card's tandem of Boldin/Fitzgerald. None of that actually happened (thank god) and the game was much better than first anticipated. Now I'm sure the ratings for the game were considerably low, but still it was a good game. The 49ers have Shaun Hill once again starting as he looks to improve on his quality 2 touchdown performance against a bad Rams D.
For the Rams they dumped Scott Linehan after starting the season 0-4 and have gone 2-3 since former Saints coach Jim Haslett took over. It has been quite the season for the former NFC contenders has Marc Bulger has now been benched twice in favor of ancient Trent "scrambled eggs" Green and Steven Jackson has been somewhat injury prone. The other week former MVP Kurt Warner made his anual return to St. Louis and now it's Isaac Bruce's turn. Bruce played 14 years for the franchise but was released after last season and quickly followed former coach Mike Martz to the 49ers. "I never could have imagined him in another uniform but this one," defensive end Leonard Little said. He signed a 2 year deal with San Francisco in March and so far this season has 24 catches for an average of 17.1. Bruce for most of his career has been the anti-diva and he continues to do that as he declined to comment this week on the game.
Bruce played for the team when they were still in LA, he got a Super Bowl-winning touchdown in 1999, and has 88 career touchdowns. For some of his former teammates that has little significance now, especially since he plays for a division rival. "What am I going to say to him? I want to actually hit him pretty good. Seriously, I do," Pina Tinoisamoa said. "I know he's going to try to prove something and we don't want that". Hitting is something the Rams aren't very familiar with as they have given up 34 and 47 points the last 2 weeks. A little home coming for Isaac Bruce won't just make this defense better for the sake of it.
Both teams could use a win, but in the tough NFC and the Cardinals locked into a first place, a playoff chase is hopeless on either side. What is important is winning a game and looking towards 2009 as both teams could have many questions when it comes to management, coaches, quarterbacks, and just the overall roster in general. The 49ers actually played well last week and if they actually give the ball to Gore when it counts they should come away with a win here. The Rams better watch out, you never know when coach Singletary will help this team begin a "streak".
Prediction: 49ers 24 Rams 17
