Breaking point or launchpad? 49ers face defining moment of season against Rams
Coming off two straight losses, the 3-4 San Francisco 49ers absolutely must win Sunday against their hated rival, the Los Angeles Rams.
There are critical moments in every game. Moments that define the outcome. Sometimes it's a big hit that turns into a fumble recovery for the defense,. Other times it comes in the form of a long touchdown run. Even other times it's a throw that went out of bounds, rather than into the arms of a defender.
The same can be said for seasons. Certain games mean more, and this weekend's game is one of those. The San Francisco 49ers are at a pivotal moment heading into their Week 8 road matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
With a victory, the 49ers will go into their bye week with a 4-4 record, and more importantly a 3-0 record in the NFC West. They will be in the middle of a crowded pack in what's clearly a wide-open conference. They'll also be in the driver's seat to win their division.
If the 49ers take care of business and trounce the Rams like we know they can, they can rest up and set themselves up for a second-half run. A win would act as a major launchpad for the team.
A loss, on the other hand, would be absolutely crushing and could ultimately doom the franchise to nothing more than agonizing mediocrity the rest of the way in 2022. It would be the team's third straight, and two of them would be against teams they "should" beat (on paper).
There is already an overall feeling of discontent brewing within the 49ers fan base. Rightfully, fans went into the 2022 campaign with expectations of a championship run. So far what we've seen is a team that is defined by its mistakes.
They have the talent to win, and until recently the 49ers featured the best defense in the NFL.
Last weekend's embarrassing 44-23 loss to the Chiefs was (we hope) the low point of the season. The once-vaunted defense, struggling with injuries,
was utterly exposed in every way.
All season, the offense has been a sputtering mess that cannot get out of its own way half the time. Whether it's penalties, dropped passes or freshman year-level interceptions from Jimmy Garoppolo, the offense has under-performed.
The recent acquisition of All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey raises expectations of an explosive offense.
Given how this season has unfolded, it seems unlikely that 49ers ownership will seek to terminate the contract of Kyle Shanahan or general manager John Lynch after this season, no matter the outcome. I personally believe that Shanahan's ultimate fate is bound to the fate of Trey Lance, who won't play until 2023 after suffering a gruesome ankle injury in Week 2.
With that out of the way, Sunday's game at SoFi Stadium has the feel of a season-defining contest. To come out of it with a much-needed win, the 49ers have a lot to fix on both sides of the ball.
Talent can only get you so far in the NFL. The defense absolutely must be able to stop the run, and get pressure on the passer. Receivers have to hang onto catchable passes. Penalties are drive-killers. Turnovers are game-killers.
The 49ers must execute better than they have the past two weeks. Their season may just depend on it.
If they don't, and San Francisco enters its bye week with a 3-5 record, the calls for Shanahan to be fired will only get louder.
