Where: Candlestick Park, San Francisco (grass, outdoors)
When: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox)
Spread: 49ers by 11
Forecast: Sunny, high near 60
Records: Rams (Overall: 3-5, NFC West: 2-0); 49ers (Overall: 6-2, NFC West 2-0)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Jan. 1, 2012: 49ers 34, Rams 27; Dec. 4, 2011: 49ers 26, Rams 0. Series record: San Francisco leads 62-61-2.
What matters: Both teams are coming off their bye. The Rams have dropped three straight and their most recent game, a 45-7 loss to New England in London, marked the first time they hadn’t been competitive all season. St. Louis has not forced a turnover during the losing streak. The skid also coincides with the absence of leading WR Danny Amendola, who’s expected to return Sunday from his separated SC joint. The Rams have dropped seven of their last eight meetings with the 49ers.
Who matters: The Rams likely won’t have much success on the ground vs. the league’s No. 5 rush defense (87.4 yards per game), so they’ve got to hit some big plays. Rookie WR Chris Givens has a 50-plus yard catch in five straight games, an NFL rookie record. And Amendola’s expected return could take some defensive attention off Givens. However, the 49ers have allowed only two pass plays of at least 40 yards all season.
Key matchups: DE Chris Long (30 QB hurries, 4 sacks, 4 QB hits) lines up against RT Anthony Davis. Long has struggled the last two games after a scorching start. Except for a bad game against the Giants, Davis has not given up a sack and has only allowed one QB hit this season, according to Pro Football Focus. DE Robert Quinn (7 sacks) must be more focused on the run than normal. LT Joe Staley is the best run-blocking tackle in the league, and RB Frank Gore is averaging a career-best 5.5 yards per carry.
Injuries of note: Amendola (shoulder) and LT Rodger Saffold (knee) both turned in limited practices Wednesday and Thursday and should return after multi-game absences. LT Wayne Hunter, who’s been subbing for Saffold, also has been limited with a back injury.
“If we do get guys like Danny (Amendola) back and Rodger (Saffold) back, certainly it opens up some things that maybe we haven’t used in the last couple weeks,” OC Brian Schottenheimer said.
Inside stuff: QB Sam Bradford has been pressured on 35.2 percent of his dropbacks, the sixth-highest percentage in the NFL. … San Fran QB Alex Smith is 9-1 in his last 10 starts against division opponents. … Opposing QBs have a 55.1 passer rating when throwing at Rams CB Bradley Fletcher. He ranks 12th in the NFL in that category.
Connections: Rams LB James Laurinaitis and 49ers RT Alex Boone were roommates for a year at Ohio State. … 49ers LB Larry Grant played three seasons with the Rams (2008-10). … Rams head coach Jeff Fisher was the defensive backs coach for the 49ers from 1992-93. … Rams QB coach Frank Cignetti held the same position with the 49ers in 2007.
Stats you should know: Rookie RB Daryl Richardson is averaging 5.4 yards per carry and will split carries again with RB Steven Jackson. … San Fran allows a league-low 12.9 points per game. … St. Louis ranks 28th in scoring (17.1).
Looking ahead: After a brutal stretch, the schedule eases the next two weeks. The Rams host the Jets before heading back west to play the Cardinals. The Jets have lost four of five, while the Cards have dropped five straight.
Prediction: 49ers 27, Rams 17
Get more Rams updates and analysis from Larry Hartstein @CBSRams.
