© Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
SANTA CLARA — The NFL did not trust this would be a close or entertaining enough game to warrant primetime viewing.
Turns out they were right.
The visiting Los Angeles Rams crushed the 49ers, 39-10, Sunday afternoon. This matchup was originally slotted for Sunday Night Football, but it was demoted, as the Bengals-Chiefs took the slot.
The 49ers were dominated in just about every sense Sunday afternoon. Here are five takeaways.
This game provided a benchmark for the 49ers
Even though the 49ers entered the game at 1-5, they held leads in five of those games, with a legitimate chance of winning at least two of the losses. The word was still not out on these 49ers, whose season was set back with injuries and recently marred with issues of missed tackles and miscommunication.
Playing the Rams, the NFL’s burgeoning juggernaut, at home, figured to show how good or bad these 49ers are. And they got crushed.
They did not play particularly well in any facet of the game, which is the first time we can say that all year. There were some silver linings in the other five losses, but not in this one.
The offense never got going. The defense was torched both on the ground and through the air. The 49ers punt team allowed a block that resulted in a safety.
In order to compete, the 49ers needed to play a clean, well-executed game. They did not.
Turnovers have killed this team
The 49ers entered Sunday with a league-worst -11 turnover differential. Turnovers have been the most consistent indicator of a 49ers loss. They have won the turnover battle in just one game this season — their lone win.
Those same issues killed the 49ers Sunday. They lost the turnover battle, 4-0.
They started the day by fumbling on their first offensive possession. C.J. Beathard was hit as he released the ball, and the Rams recovered.
Two possessions later, after they punted on the ensuing drive, the 49ers coughed up the ball again. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who dominated all game long, wrapped up Matt Breida, knocking the ball out of his hands. The Rams recovered.
One drive later, Beathard fumbled on the first snap, again. He recovered. The 49ers were forced to punt later in the drive, and that, too, went awry. The Rams blocked the punt into the end zone, resulting in a safety.
On San Francisco’s following offensive drive, Beathard threw a pass intended for Marquise Goodwin, but cornerback Troy Hill jumped the route and intercepted the ball. It was a nightmarish start that simply could not be overcome against a team as talented as the Rams.
The turnovers did not stop. On San Francisco’s second possession of the second half, Beathard threw another interception, intended for George Kittle.
The Rams scored 24 points off the 49ers’ four turnovers.
Dante Pettis’ absence is obvious
Last week, we saw what kind of difference Marquise Goodwin makes when he’s activated. Even if he isn’t catching passes, the mere threat of his speed opens the field.
When he’s erased, the 49ers have minimal aerial play-makers. Such was the case Sunday. The 49ers did not complete a pass to a receiver until the first possession of the second half, on a six-yard throw to Trent Taylor.
The 49ers do not have any other downfield threats to supplement Goodwin. Pettis, San Francisco’s second-round pick, would be that presence. But he has not played for the past three weeks after suffering a knee injury in Week 4.
The lack of speed has forced Kyle Shanahan to use savvy misdirection, whether screens, shovel passes, or option plays to compensate. The Rams, with stars all over their defense, were too fast and powerful to allow those creative plays to generate big gains.
Injuries continue to pile up
This team has been plagued with awful luck.
There is not another squad in recent memory that has sustained season-ending injuries to their franchise quarterback and starting running back near the beginning of the season. Even after Jimmy Garoppolo and Jerick McKinnon tore their ACLs, the 49ers have continued suffering setbacks, particularly on the offensive side.
The majority of the offensive line (Joe Staley, Weston Richburg, and Mike Person) have played through knee injuries. Matt Breida has dealt with a bum left ankle that continued to hobble him Sunday. Goodwin, who has battled quad and hamstring injuries, was shaken up early in the fourth quarter as he blocked on a screen pass.
The defensive side took a hit Sunday. Richard Sherman (calf) and Jimmie Ward (hamstring) did not play. K’Waun Williams, who had dealt with a shoulder injury, was banged up and did not play for several drives. Free safety Adrian Colbert was carted off the field after landing awkwardly on a jump ball in the third quarter. He returned to the sideline, in jersey, but did not re-enter the game. Reuben Foster left the game with a shoulder injury early in the fourth quarter.
At this point, there aren’t many 49ers starters who have not suffered some type of injury through seven weeks.
The 49ers pass protection has struggled
The Rams dominated in every facet of the game. So, let’s point to the player who dominated most, who also may be the NFL’s most imposing force: Donald.
The Rams’ star defensive tackle compiled four sacks, five tackles for loss, and eight tackles (seven solo). He took the game over, physically handling the 49ers’ interior line of Richburg, Person, and Laken Tomlinson. The 49ers receivers did not get open, the pocket collapsed, and Beathard struggled to improvise.
The 49ers offensive line is much better this year than last year, particularly in rushing situations. The 49ers entered Sunday with the third-best rushing attack in the league, largely a result of dominance up front. But the pass protection has struggled. The 49ers have allowed 27 sacks through seven games.
The issue is multi-faceted, but the offensive line has struggled to contain some of the league’s top pass rushers. Two weeks ago, Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones dominated. On Sunday, Donald did.