49ers snap losing streak with win over the Rams

'Niners move to 3-7

At long last, after six straight loses, the 49ers (3-7) found themselves pitted against a team in worst shape than themselves. In a battle of 2-7 league laughingstocks, San Francisco made its claim as the less laughable of the two with a 35-16 home victory on Sunday. The blowout served as good medicine for a team on the wrong side of several mismatches this year and after a gut-wrenching loss in Arizona as time expired one week ago. Now back to reality, San Francisco travels to Dallas to play the motivated Cowboys after their thrilling defeat of Washington

Shaun Hill tightened his grip on the role of starting quarterback by going 15-of-20 for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Martz has modified his offense for Hill who isn’t the deep passer former starter J.T. O’Sullivan was, but thrives by throwing short passes. More importantly, Hill didn’t have an interception against the Rams. O’Sullivan even got into the game long enough to throw an incomplete pass. At the half, Hill had a perfect passer rating of 158.3.

Running back Frank Gore broke out with 106 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He carried the ball 18 times and caught two passes. For the second straight game, tight end Vernon Davis caught a touchdown pass, while receiver Bryant Johnson caught four balls for 56 yards and one touchdown.

Maybe San Francisco’s dominate performance is a sign, evidence the ship isn’t lost, but still salvageable. As terrible as the 49ers have played this year, they aren’t as bad as St. Louis, Detroit, Kansas City and Cincinnati. The 49ers haven’t hit rock bottom, at least not record wise, which means finding their way back into the NFL pack can’t be too tough of a vertical climb. So, a wise move here and a draft pick there and maybe the 49ers become next year’s Atlanta Falcons. But, that’s probably a lot of wishful thinking, especially after a win that’s more of a mirage than anything else is. But, if the 49ers can handle the Cowboys next week, now we’re talking.

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The 49ers better soak up the feel of winning because they revert back to easy pickings for the rest of the NFL until a road date in St. Louis on Dec. 21. Once the clock expired on Sunday, the 49ers turned back into a pumpkin after playing the role of princess for four quarters. With games in Dallas and Buffalo up next, San Francisco won’t find any of the good times they enjoyed against the Rams. And if the 49ers lose their remaining contest against St. Louis, maybe they do plummet to the bottom. But, winning, even one game, can do wonders, especially for a team with a depressed confidence level.

Against Dallas, San Francisco will face an offensive attack that’s shifted into second gear due to Tony Romo’s injury. So, the Cowboys have turned to the rugged running of Marion Barber, who will be a handful for the 49ers’ defensive line to contain. But, with Dallas finding its way on offense, maybe the 49ers can score early points to make the game interesting.

However the contest turns out, the 49ers won their third game of the year against the Rams with the promise of victory number four in a month. That’s enough of a carrot to keep the players hungry.

By Jim Bucci
ProFootball-fans.com San Francisco 49ers Correspondent