The 2-5 San Francisco 49ers travel to face the 3-3 St. Louis Rams this weekend. St. Louis is favored by 8 points, and few expect the 49ers to win. However, this is a game the 49ers can win if they play well. Here are three reasons why the 49ers can beat the Rams.
3. Rams' Inconsistency
The Rams have impressive wins over the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals, but also lost to the Washington Redskins and put up six points against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Rams have yet to prove that they can show up consistently each week. The Rams won back-to-back games just once since the end of the 2013 season. The Rams are coming off a win over the Browns and with the 4-2 Vikings up next, this could be a let-down game.
2. Kaepernick's Legs
Kaepernick struggled at times this season, as he hasn't completed enough passes and he's often settled for check downs. However, the biggest issue in the 49ers' loss to the Seahawks was that Kaepernick failed to run the ball. He didn't even attempt a single run in the game. One of Kaepernick's best and most consistent attributes is that he is a dangerous runner. It's something the 49ers haven't done a good job of showcasing and it's something they must do to beat the Rams. Kaepernick doesn't have to torch the Rams through the air, but he'll likely need to be a threat on the ground. If that happens, the 49ers can beat the Rams.
1. Fewer Turnovers
For the 49ers to beat the Rams, they must win the turnover battle. That won't be an easy task against a Rams' defense that has forced 13 turnovers this season. However, Kaepernick hasn't thrown a pick in three weeks. The 49ers are even in turnover differential and could capitalize on Nick Foles' mistakes. He's only two games removed from a four-INT game and has been the beneficiary of several dropped picks this season. When Foles turns the ball over, the Rams tend to lose. If the 49ers win the turnover battle by finding was to force Foles into mistakes, then San Francisco can pick up a needed win.