Division Crown.
By Brandon Burnett
Cold, Hard Football Facts Wizard of the NFC West (@B_Burnett49er)
If the 49ers defeat the Rams this weekend, the Cardinals will officially be eliminated from NFC West contention.
After a 4-0 start, that's what it has come to in Arizona.
Luckily for Cardinals fans, the NFL will pin two 4-7 teams in the midst of a complete collapse against one another when AZ travels to New York to take on the Jets Sunday.
You'll pass on that snooze-fest? OK, the NFC West does have a couple decent matchups in store this weekend. Seattle heads to Chicago in a pivotal battle carrying playoff implications. The Seahawks are 6-5 and locked in the No. 6 seed, while the Bears currently occupy the NFC's No. 3 seed at 8-3.
Meanwhile, San Francisco heads to St. Louis to find out if these two can actually determine a winner this time. The two NFCW foes settled for a very unsatisfying, 24-24 tie Week 10 at Candlestick Park.
Here are five things to look for in Week 13.
1. Danny Amendola's availability means everything to this game. (49ers vs. Rams)
It's no secret that Danny Amendola is a difference maker. This year alone the Rams are 4-3-1 when he steps on the field and 0-3 when he sits out.
Against San Francisco earlier this month, the shifty wideout caught 11 passes for 102 yards and would've had plenty more if his 80-yard catch in OT wouldn't have been called back due to an irrelevant illegal formation penalty.
For the season, St. Louis is No. 17 in Offensive Passer Rating. Without Amendola for all but one game in 2011, the Rams finished at No. 31 in OPR. That alone says a lot about what he means to this team.
The 49ers don't need any help defensively. SF comes into the game at No. 1 in Bendability and Defensive Real Passing Yards per Attempt, No. 2 in our Defensive Hog Index and No. 4 in Defensive Passer Rating. They just scored two pick-sixes in one game against Drew Brees, in the Superdome no less.
If Amendola plays (and serves as more than just a decoy), it's been proven that he can frustrate the 49ers for 60 minutes—and more if need be. CB Carlos Rogers in particular, who covers slot receivers in the Niners nickel package, struggles with the Rams' stud WR.
2. Harbaugh's going with Kaepernick again, but is it the right move?
Colin Kaepernick replaced Alex Smith under center for the 49ers when Smith suffered a concussion in the first half against the Rams in Week 10, and still isn't giving the job back.
Smith has been cleared to play and has a passer rating of 104.1 this season, but Jim Harbaugh has opted to ride the hot(ter) hand and stick with Kaepernick, who has now won each of his first two NFL starts.
Is it a smart move? There are less physical limitations with Kaepernick, but Smith was having a year even better than last year's career-best campaign before his injury against St. Louis. Hell, he had completed 25 of his last 27 passes with four TDs and no interceptions.
It's a tough decision, as Kaepernick brings excitement and a cannon for an arm into the mix. Still, he's shown to be a bit more careless with the football than Smith, and that could eventually get him into trouble. With RB Kendall Hunter and WR Kyle Williams gone for the year (injured on the same play, no less), the offense grows even more inexperienced.
Kaepernick survived his first road test in New Orleans, but St. Louis is No. 15 in DPR whereas the Saints are No. 29. CB Janoris Jenkins ran two interceptions back for scores against Arizona last week.
5. Predicting Post-Week 13 NFCW Standings (1-2 in Week 12)
3. St. Louis Rams (4-7-1)
The 49ers haven't been able to put together a single three-game winning streak in 2012, so St. Louis does have that going. The Niners have four two-game winning streaks, but falter every third game. The Rams are out-manned in nearly every Quality Stat, but that didn't stop them from having every chance to win in San Francisco three weeks ago.
http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/co ... own/19723/
By Brandon Burnett
Cold, Hard Football Facts Wizard of the NFC West (@B_Burnett49er)
If the 49ers defeat the Rams this weekend, the Cardinals will officially be eliminated from NFC West contention.
After a 4-0 start, that's what it has come to in Arizona.
Luckily for Cardinals fans, the NFL will pin two 4-7 teams in the midst of a complete collapse against one another when AZ travels to New York to take on the Jets Sunday.
You'll pass on that snooze-fest? OK, the NFC West does have a couple decent matchups in store this weekend. Seattle heads to Chicago in a pivotal battle carrying playoff implications. The Seahawks are 6-5 and locked in the No. 6 seed, while the Bears currently occupy the NFC's No. 3 seed at 8-3.
Meanwhile, San Francisco heads to St. Louis to find out if these two can actually determine a winner this time. The two NFCW foes settled for a very unsatisfying, 24-24 tie Week 10 at Candlestick Park.
Here are five things to look for in Week 13.
1. Danny Amendola's availability means everything to this game. (49ers vs. Rams)
It's no secret that Danny Amendola is a difference maker. This year alone the Rams are 4-3-1 when he steps on the field and 0-3 when he sits out.
Against San Francisco earlier this month, the shifty wideout caught 11 passes for 102 yards and would've had plenty more if his 80-yard catch in OT wouldn't have been called back due to an irrelevant illegal formation penalty.
For the season, St. Louis is No. 17 in Offensive Passer Rating. Without Amendola for all but one game in 2011, the Rams finished at No. 31 in OPR. That alone says a lot about what he means to this team.
The 49ers don't need any help defensively. SF comes into the game at No. 1 in Bendability and Defensive Real Passing Yards per Attempt, No. 2 in our Defensive Hog Index and No. 4 in Defensive Passer Rating. They just scored two pick-sixes in one game against Drew Brees, in the Superdome no less.
If Amendola plays (and serves as more than just a decoy), it's been proven that he can frustrate the 49ers for 60 minutes—and more if need be. CB Carlos Rogers in particular, who covers slot receivers in the Niners nickel package, struggles with the Rams' stud WR.
2. Harbaugh's going with Kaepernick again, but is it the right move?
Colin Kaepernick replaced Alex Smith under center for the 49ers when Smith suffered a concussion in the first half against the Rams in Week 10, and still isn't giving the job back.
Smith has been cleared to play and has a passer rating of 104.1 this season, but Jim Harbaugh has opted to ride the hot(ter) hand and stick with Kaepernick, who has now won each of his first two NFL starts.
Is it a smart move? There are less physical limitations with Kaepernick, but Smith was having a year even better than last year's career-best campaign before his injury against St. Louis. Hell, he had completed 25 of his last 27 passes with four TDs and no interceptions.
It's a tough decision, as Kaepernick brings excitement and a cannon for an arm into the mix. Still, he's shown to be a bit more careless with the football than Smith, and that could eventually get him into trouble. With RB Kendall Hunter and WR Kyle Williams gone for the year (injured on the same play, no less), the offense grows even more inexperienced.
Kaepernick survived his first road test in New Orleans, but St. Louis is No. 15 in DPR whereas the Saints are No. 29. CB Janoris Jenkins ran two interceptions back for scores against Arizona last week.
5. Predicting Post-Week 13 NFCW Standings (1-2 in Week 12)
3. St. Louis Rams (4-7-1)
The 49ers haven't been able to put together a single three-game winning streak in 2012, so St. Louis does have that going. The Niners have four two-game winning streaks, but falter every third game. The Rams are out-manned in nearly every Quality Stat, but that didn't stop them from having every chance to win in San Francisco three weeks ago.
http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/co ... own/19723/
