You hear coachisms like "We made just enough plays to win the game" often, but the real story when you're talking about a Rams/49ers game is who can make enough plays not to lose the game. In this case, it was the Rams doing just enough to not sabotage their chance at victory.A look at the box score, the discrepancy in stats, and you wonder why St. Louis didn't win this one more decisively. The team that seemed to have woken up last week against the Saints did a good job moving the ball, but untimely sacks set back a number of potential scoring drives. The 49ers got to Marc Bulger six times, losing 50 yards of offense in the process.
The 49ers also did a good job of forcing the Rams to dink-and-dunk their way down the field, holding Bulger to just 4.8 yards per attempt (with no pass longer than 17 yards) and the team to just 3.5 yards per carry. Offenses can still score effectively playing this style of ball (also known as the West Coast Offense, maybe you've heard of it), but you need to convert third downs at a high rate for that to be successful. The Rams' 6-of-18 third-down success just doesn't cut it.
Trent Dilfer threw two interceptions (to be fair, one a toss-up throw at the end of the first half and the other a last-ditch attempt to win the game) and only completed 47.6% of his passes, but he appeared to actually have a functional shoulder, which automatically makes him the best option the 49ers have. The Rams only have three sacks to show for it, but got a lot of pressure on The Dilf. Once again, it was Frank Gore put in the unfortunate situation of facing an impossible task -- carrying the offense on his shoulders -- as the Rams came prepared in holding him to just 32 yards on 15 carries.
The Rams have to feel good about pulling themselves out of the NFC West cellar (sort of like no longer being the ugliest guy at the Lord Of The Rings convention), but they made it awfully tough on themselves to beat the worst team in the NFL. The 49ers used good starting field position to kick two field goals in the fourth before beginning at their own 11 and marching 68 yards before the last play of the game and potential game-winner was snagged by O.J. Atogwe.
That, in the words of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, is winning by "the skin of your yellow country teeth." But wins are wins are wins, and the Rams have evened themselves up with the 49ers today. In San Francisco, the ship is sinking. Maybe they'll see Dolphins when they hit rock bottom.
