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Five 49ers to watch in Week 15 NFC West showdown vs. Rams originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The 49ers will not be able to win the NFC West on Thursday night, but they can remain alive in the race for another week.
The Los Angeles Rams make their annual trek to Levi’s Stadium for a late-season game that finds both teams battling for their postseason lives.
The Rams are coming off a 44-42 shootout victory over the Buffalo Bills, while the 49ers finally put together a good showing in a 38-13 victory over the woeful Chicago Bears.
At 6-7, the 49ers can pull into a tie for second place with the Rams. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks enter their Week 15 game against the Green Bay Packers at a division-leading 8-5.
“I know there’s been talk about desperation around the building ever since that game this past Sunday,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said.
”I haven’t really talked about it much, because I felt like that was already the feeling the last few weeks. It just hadn’t really come together like you wanted it to.”
It must come together Thursday night and for the remainder of the season if the 49ers are going to advance to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
And here are five players to watch as the 49ers look to get back to the .500 mark on the season:
CB Renardo Green
In the first meeting between these teams, the Rams played without their two best wide receivers, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
Instead, it was Tutu Atwell who stepped up in a big way with four catches for 93 yards.
Shortly thereafter, rookie cornerback Renardo Green replaced Isaac Yiadom in the 49ers’ nickel defense.
This figures to be Green’s stiffest challenge of the season, as he will play a lot and he will find himself matched against Kupp or Nacua in a lot of different situations.
Kupp averages seven catches and 73 yards a game, while Nacua is checking in with 6.8 catches and 88.5 yards.
It will be a great test for Green, who figures to be a full-time starter in the 49ers’ defense…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/five-49ers-watch-week-15-170039817.html
Author : NBC Sports BayArea
Publish date : 2024-12-12 17:00:00
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