Rams-49ers Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Gore will carry Singletary to his first winBoth of these NFC West teams find themselves at 2-7, trailing the Cardinals by a wide margin and looking to get off lengthy losing streaks. The Rams were embarrassed last week by the Jets and they will need to rebound quickly to avoid their fourth straight loss. A division win, on the road against the 49ers would give them a much needed lift, while San Francisco has recently undergone changes with its head coach and starting quarterback. San Francisco was competitive during Monday night's loss to the Cardinals, but the 49ers now have a short week to prepare for St Louis.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
STL	2-14	232	465	1-7	1-7	0-6	2-10
SFO	7-9	339	381	4-4	3-5	3-3	5-7
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

St. Louis Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Bulger 56.7 1469 5 6 Boller 55.7 899 3 6

San Francisco Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Smith 60.5 2350 18 12 Hill 56.1 943 5 2

St. Louis Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jackso... 324 1416 4.4 4 Darby 27 152 5.6 0

San Francisco Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Gore 229 1120 4.9 10 Coffee 83 226 2.7 1

St. Louis Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Avery 47 589 12.5 5 Gibson 34 348 10.2 1

San Francisco Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Davis 78 965 12.4 13 Crabtr... 48 625 13.0 2

Full Player Stats: St. Louis | San Francisco

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	STL	287.0
	SFO	311.0
Yards Passing	STL	184.2
	SFO	211.2
Yards Rushing	STL	103.1
	SFO	99.9
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	STL	371.9
	SFO	326.0
Pass Yds Allowed	STL	217.2
	SFO	219.2
Rush Yds Allowed	STL	154.7
	SFO	106.8

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Series tied 8-8
Nov 18, 2007	STL 13, SFO 9
Sep 16, 2007	STL 16, @SFO 17
Nov 26, 2006	STL 20, @SFO 17
Sep 17, 2006	STL 13, SFO 20
Dec 24, 2005	STL 20, @SFO 24
Sep 11, 2005	STL 25, SFO 28
Dec 5, 2004	STL 16, @SFO 6
Oct 3, 2004	STL 24, SFO 14
Nov 2, 2003	STL 10, SFO 30
Sep 14, 2003	STL 27, @SFO 24
Dec 30, 2002	STL 31, @SFO 20
Oct 6, 2002	STL 13, SFO 37
Dec 9, 2001	STL 27, @SFO 14
Sep 23, 2001	STL 30, SFO 26

In a season full of drama for the San Francisco 49ers, Monday night's loss was just the latest episode.

The 49ers hope to write a different chapter on Sunday when they host the equally woeful St. Louis Rams.

Two weeks after interim coach Mike Singletary's postgame tirade following their 34-13 loss to Seattle, the 49ers were on the verge of winning their first game since Sept. 21 on Monday at Arizona.

Allen Rossum's 104-yard opening kickoff return gave San Francisco a lead it wouldn't relinquish until 4:21 remaining. But as they had done in their previous five games, the 49ers (2-7) lost as fullback Michael Robinson was stuffed at the 2-yard line as time expired in the 29-24 defeat.

"That was definitely one of the most frustrating losses I can remember in my 15 or 16 years playing football," San Francisco center Eric Heitmann said.

Added to the frustration was that Frank Gore, who carried 23 times for 99 yards, didn't get the final carry.

"I think (offensive coordinator) Coach (Mike) Martz felt that there would be a cavity inside, so he made the call," said Singletary, who fell to 0-2 since taking over for Mike Nolan on Oct. 21. "So you've got to live with the result."

Singletary took a more diplomatic approach on Tuesday as he accepted the blame for the final play, but he and Martz voiced concern about how officials handled the video review on the play before Robinson's final push.

On that play, Gore fell as he went around the end, then worked his way into the end zone. Officials ruled that Gore was down by contact and that the ball was two yards back from the initial spot.

"Even if they'd moved it back to the 10-yard line, we wouldn't have had time to change the play," Martz said. "It wouldn't have mattered. We had to run that play, so I thought that was unfortunate. We were trying to spike the ball. Had we been allowed to spike the ball, none of that would have happened. The clock was stopped, and we could've gotten in the personnel we wanted. You can do a play you want."

Gore -- the NFL's sixth-leading rusher with 728 yards -- did not practice on Wednesday due to a neck injury suffered on the final drive, but is expected to play against the Rams, owners of the league's 30th-ranked rush defense.

In four career starts against St. Louis, Gore has averaged 93.5 yards rushing.

Shaun Hill completed 19-of-40 passes for 217 yards and two first-half touchdowns, but lost a fumble and was intercepted twice in the final 30 minutes.

"It's tough, but it's time to get ready for St. Louis," Hill told the team's official Web site.

Rookie Josh Morgan had four catches for 54 yards -- including a 31-yard touchdown in the second quarter -- but won't play Sunday due to a groin injury.

Vernon Davis, banished to the lockerroom by Singletary during the coach's debut, had his first touchdown reception of the season -- an 18-yarder that extended the 49ers' lead to 21-13.

While Singletary is trying to dig his team out of the NFC West basement, so is Rams interim head coach Jim Haslett following Sunday's 47-3 loss to the New York Jets.

"It was embarrassing," Haslett said of St. Louis' third loss in a row. "That was bad football all the way around. I can't even describe it."

St. Louis (2-7) committed five turnovers and trailed 40-0 at halftime.

Marc Bulger completed 6-of-13 passes for 65 yards and an interception. He was sacked twice, and his fumble in the first quarter was returned 50 yards for a touchdown. Trent Green took over in the second half, but completed only 5-of-10 passes for 70 yards and an interception.

"I didn't take Marc out because he was playing bad," Haslett said. "I took him out because we were behind."

In his previous start against Arizona on Nov. 2, Bulger completed 16-of-33 passes for 186 yards, and was picked off twice in the Rams' 34-13 loss.

"We are not getting the job done on offense and that falls on the quarterback," Bulger said. "Whether I have to throw it 60 times next week or 30 or back up, whatever it takes to help our team win, I'm willing to take that role."

Haslett said Bulger will start against the 49ers, and that, "There was no discussion with the staff (about a change)."

With Steven Jackson out (thigh) against New York, the Rams were led by second-year running back Kenneth Darby, who carried four times for 32 yards. Jackson did not practice Friday and will sit out for the third time in four weeks.

"I really didn't think I would miss a game, let alone two or three," Jackson said. "For it to linger like this, it really begins to make you wonder what's really going on."

Police: Lack of evidence against Rams' Jackson

Rams running back Steven Jackson won't face criminal charges over allegations that he beat a girlfriend who was nine months pregnant with the couple's child at his Las Vegas home last year, a police spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Leaders talk wording of 49ers stadium measure

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Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

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Bears shift Marinelli to defensive coordinator

The Bears hired the 49ers' Shane Day as quarterbacks coach.

St. Louis Rams coach Spagnuolo mum on sale talk

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Rams keep focus on the job

The focus on the fields Tuesday at Rams Park was dealing with the first real heat during a practice this offseason, while also finishing preparations for the team's third, and final, spring minicamp later this week.

Video: If sold, will the Rams stay in St. Louis?

Dierdorf says, "It's going to be the Cowboys new $1.1 billion dollar stadium that's opening this year in Dallas.

As sale looms, Rams fans can do their part

If the Rams eventually move from St. Louis, it won't be because of the fans. The customers have stayed loyal during hard times, buying up about 95 percent of the seats at the Edward Jones Dome over the last two seasons.

Vobora now seen as relevant for Rams

A year ago at this time, Rams linebacker David Vobora was irrelevant, as in "Mr. Irrelevant," the last player taken in the draft.

Santa Clara approves financing plan for 49ers stadium

Nearly three years after Santa Clara's hopes of landing an NFL stadium came to life, the City Council early this morning carried that dream over yet another key hurdle ? approving a long-awaited financing plan with the San Francisco 49ers.

CB Bly blows into camp

"My instincts are still very instinctive," he said. Good to know. When Walt Harris tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee two weeks ago, the 49ers were in need of a top-flight cornerback.

Newsom to Santa Clara: Don't build stadium

The Santa Clara City Council may decide tonight to bless a $937 million stadium project for the San Francisco 49ers.

Sharing stadium not such bad idea

THE ONLY ABSOLUTE about a sports team seeking a new home is the presence of anger.

Singletary's 'intensity' could be rallying point for middling 49ers

The new uniforms bring to mind the San Francisco 49ers of the championship years.