49ers vs. Rams: Top 5 Matchups To Watch

By Tyson Sweet

49ers vs. Rams: Top 5 Matchups To Watch

San Francisco 49ers v St. Louis Rams — Monday Night Football will feature an NFC West showdown between the San Francisco 49ers (3-2) and the St. Louis Rams (1-3). The Niners look to win their third straight, while the Rams are just trying to get back on the right track after coming up short in their three previous games. These are the top five matchups to watch on Monday night.

5. Zac Stacy Against Niners’ Stout Run Defense

Zac Stacy

5. Zac Stacy Against Niners’ Stout Run Defense

Zac Stacy — Despite missing some big-time players, the Niners’ defense has been fantastic against the run this season. Stacy, meanwhile, has not been much of a factor for the Rams this season, but that is mostly because he has only rushed 53 times in four games -- what’s up with that? Stacy needs to get more involved.

4. Austin Davis Against the Element of MNF

Austin Davis

4. Austin Davis Against the Element of MNF

Austin Davis — Davis has been a nice surprise for St. Louis, as he has really turned it up a notch or two over the last two games for the Rams. However, Davis has never been under the bright lights of Monday Night Football against a divisional opponent before, either. We’ll see how he handles the situation.

3. Anquan Boldin vs. Janoris Jenkins/E.J. Gaines

Anquan Boldin

3. Anquan Boldin vs. Janoris Jenkins/E.J. Gaines

Anquan Boldin — Boldin must love to play the Rams, because he shreds them almost every time. In his career, Boldin has managed 1326 receiving yards and seven touchdowns against St. Louis. Jenkins and Gaines must not let the veteran receiver get his way this time.

2. Rams’ Defense Against Frank Gore

Frank Gore

2. Rams’ Defense Against Frank Gore

Frank Gore — The bad news for the Rams is that Gore has managed to get things going over the last couple weeks. St. Louis has been one of the worst defenses in the league against the run, which, unfortunately for them, is also bad news. There is really no good news here, unless you’re Frank Gore. The Rams just need to find a way to stop him.

1. Robert Quinn vs. Joe Staley

St Louis Rams v San Francisco 49ers

1. Robert Quinn vs. Joe Staley

St Louis Rams v San Francisco 49ers — Robert Quinn had 19 sacks last season. This year he has zero. How has Quinn not managed a single sack? Regardless, Staley is going to have his hands full because Quinn is well overdue. Quinn needs to break through and put pressure on QB Colin Kaepernick, because a pressured Kaepernick is a bad Kaepernick -- that is if St. Louis can contain him.

Tyson Sweet is a Seattle Seahawks writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @The12thDude, like him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google!

Teams in this article »

San Francisco 49ers

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Los Angeles Rams

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