Limiting turnovers, strong run game has led 49ers win streak over Rams
A statistical analysis of rivalry under Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay
Jimmy Garoppolo is undefeated in six starts against the Rams. He’s won pretty. He’s won ugly. Never lost. Kyle Shanahan is 7-3 versus the 49ers’ NFC West rivals, with a six-game win streak of his own.
The quarterback and head coach tandem will face Los Angeles for the first time in the postseason Sunday.
Since coming to the 49ers in 2017 (coinciding with the hiring of Sean McVay to Los Angeles and Shanahan to San Francisco), Garoppolo has made six of 10 starts against the Rams. He sat the first matchup in 2017 (a 41-39 loss) before taking over as starter later that season; missed a 2018 season in which the 49ers had a minus-8 turnover margin in two blowout losses; and sat a narrow 2020 victory.
Since those dreadful 2018 performances, the 49ers have a plus-2 turnover margin in six wins over Los Angeles, with Garoppolo starting five. They haven’t lost the turnover margin over their last four games.
During their six-game win streak, the 49ers have outrushed the Rams four times, including by a combined 175 yards this season. San Francisco has attempted more than twice as many rushing attempts in the two games (75 to 34).
In 2021 overall, the 49ers have averaged about 25 more yards on the ground than the Rams, who average about 25 more yards passing.
Cooper Kupp, the dynamic receiver and MVP candidate, has been targeted a team-high 20 times against the 49ers, including 13 in first matchup. Kupp has 240 receiving yards on 18 catches (90% of his targets) and a touchdown.
Tight end George Kittle has led 49ers with 14 targets (seven in each game), while receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk have each been targeted 11 times.