How do you explain a shutout on the opening week of the NFL season? That’s hard in and of itself. Now attempting to explain how one of the league’s worst defenses from last season pitched said shutout is even more difficult.
On the heels of the San Francisco 49ers destroying the division-rival Los Angeles Rams 28-0 on Monday night, we might have an explanation.
At least one member of the 49ers’ defense told NFL Media’s Steve Wyche that they knew what plays the Rams were running simply due to the alignment and motion in the backfield.
That might explain how Los Angeles put up zero points, 10 first downs and a total of 185 yards in the game.
It won’t be getting much easier for the Rams moving forward here. They take on the Seattle Seahawks this upcoming Sunday. It’s the team’s first regular season game in Los Angeles in over 20 years.
For San Francisco, one has to wonder if its ability to read the Rams’ play prior to the snap on Monday was the primary reason for the team pitching a shutout.
We will surely learn more when the 49ers travel to Carolina to take on the defending NFC champion Panthers on Sunday.