The Los Angeles Rams will take on the San Francisco 49ers with the hopes of continuing their climb in the NFC West. Here are my bold predictions for Thursday Night Football.
Tutu Atwell get his first touchdown of the year
Tutu Atwell just surpassed a career high in receiving yards with this clutch 4th down reception from Matthew Stafford. Atwell has stepped up many times when the Rams needed him and this was another instance with Robinson in/out the lineup after injury.
Atwell delivers! pic.twitter.com/GRk9l22uPj
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) December 9, 2024
There was a time this year Tutu Atwell was the Rams leading receiver but that has since changed with the return of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp from injury. Regardless of what your opinion is of LA’s 2021 second round draft pick, he has been vital in many key moments this season. Against the Buffalo Bills he went three-for-three for 45 yards with what might have been the game sealing catch when he helped convert a 4th-and-5 deep into the fourth quarter which lead to Nacua’s final score. The last time the Atwell saw the 49ers he had his best game of the year with four catches for 93 yards but could not find the endzone. I believe that changes this week. Atwell with his blazing speed will get the best of San Francisco’s defense and score his first touchdown of the season.
The defense gets two takeaways
It would be hard pressed to say that the defense put anything on tape that got you excited for Thursday’s matchup, but they did just enough to force the Bills to use a timeout in the fourth quarter when they stopped a Josh Allen sneak at the one-yard line. They will hope to have a better game this week even though the last time they saw Brock Purdy and Co. they let Jauan Jennings go for 175 yards and three touchdowns. For the better part of the season the defense has looked solid as long as the pass rush is getting good leverage and have been opportunistic when other teams make a mistake. Purdy is coming off a great game against the Chicago Bears where he didn’t make a mistake. That will change this week. I believe the Rams defense will be hungry after getting embarrassed by Allen on Sunday and will force two turnovers against the 49ers.
Deebo Samuel’s social media posts pay off
We are at the point of the season where Deebo Samuel begins to complain about his usage in his offense. In a since deleted post, Samuel stated that he is “not struggling at all just not getting the ball!” which the community hilariously responded with the hard hitting facts, “he leads the team in drops. He is struggling.”
Unfortunately for Los Angeles, the post may have come at the worst time. If Purdy and Kyle Shanahan make it a priority to keep Samuel happy and feed him the ball on Thursday it could be a long day for a defense that just got torched by the Bills speedy playmakers and will likely be without Cobie Durant after suffering a lung contusion. The 49ers will also be without backup running back Jordan Mason and rely on Isaac Guerendo who is questionable for Thursday’s game and if he cannot go it will be Patrick Taylor. Samuel has lined up in the backfield before and utilized as a running back himself in the past and with the injuries at that position Shanahan may be forced to get a bit more creative with his personnel. That being said, no matter where Samuel is lined up I believe he is about to have his best game of the season and finish the game with two touchdowns and 150+ all purpose yards.