49ers’ 5 keys to upsetting the Rams at Levi’s South in NFC West battle

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Business travel is picking up for the 49ers.

Four of their next five games are away from Levi’s Stadium, site of last Sunday’s first loss of the season, a 26-21 turnover-fest against Jacksonville.

Now the stakes jack up with the 49ers’ lone appearance on Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football,” with a 5:15 p.m. visit to the 7-point favorite Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, where the majority of fans are typically 49ers Faithful.

The 49ers are packing light, so to speak: quarterback Brock Purdy and leading wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings have been ruled out because of injuries.

As helpful as a “last-place schedule” may assist the injury-riddled 49ers this season, can “jetlag” be added to their relentless injury list?

The upcoming runway: at the Rams tonight, Oct. 12 at Tampa Bay (4:25 p.m. ET), Oct. 19 vs. Atlanta (5:20 p.m.), Oct. 26 at Houston (noon CT), Nov. 2 at the New York Giants (1 p.m. ET).

“It’s always a challenge when you have more on the road, but that means you get more at home later at some time,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “… Could be a disadvantage, could end up being an advantage”

Historically, it’s rare to play four of five on the road, and even rarer to have that stretch uninterrupted by a bye. Shanahan has experienced it just once as the 49ers’ coach, going 2-3 in that 2020 late-season block while getting booted out of Santa Clara County amid COVID protocol.

The 49ers haven’t had a four-of-five road string this early in a season since 1989, when they opened with five of six on the road en route to a second straight Super Bowl crown.

Here are five ways to open this October tour triumphantly:

1. PASS COVERAGE

Recording no interceptions through four games makes it seem like the 49ers have an atrocious pass defense. The drought is actually 11 games dating back to last November when Isaac Yiadom picked off Seattle.

Playing without Nick Bosa (knee surgery) invites Matthew Stafford to target anyone — including Puka Nacua (the NFL’s leading receiver with 503 yards) and Davante Adams (Palo Alto High, class of 2011). Los Angeles native Deommodore Lenoir is craving his first interception and has allowed seven completions on 11 targets this season.

Nickel back Upton Stout and safety Marques Sigle are eager to get tested by Stafford, but they’ll welcome pass-rush help from fellow rookies Mykel Williams, Alfred Collins, C.J. West and, well, anyone. Sunday’s failure to touch Trevor Lawrence was an indictment on the Bosa-less personnel and a scheme that summoned only five blitzes. The Rams’ line can be had, and right tackle Rob Havenstein is doubtful; Jimmy Garoppolo is Stafford’s backup.

2. McCAFFREY’S L.A. STORY

Once upon a time – in Christian McCaffrey’s starting debut for the 49ers – he produced touchdowns via passing, catching and rushing in a 2022 rout of the host Rams.

He’s yet to run for 100 total yards or break anything longer than 15 yards in a game this season. Neither he nor any other 49er has run for a touchdown. But he’s healthy, and his team-high 31 receptions (305 yards, two touchdowns) have helped cover for missing wide receivers. It’s also a bit of a homecoming, as SoFi Stadium is 15 miles south of his offseason home that George Clooney previously owned.

McCaffrey says he’s close for a breakout game. Shanahan agrees. The offensive linemen could have the ultimate say as they need to open up better lanes and block what could be the best defensive front they’ve faced this season.

3. QUARTERBACK ASSETS

Five drops plagued Purdy’s unsuccessful comeback Sunday, when he also doomed things with two interceptions, a last-minute strip-sack fumble at midfield, and the aggravation of his toe injury.

The 49ers must protect the more-patient Mac Jones as he starts again in place of Purdy. Passes must be more accurate, and targeted receivers must be sure-handed and relentless in pursuit of moving the chains and ultimately the ball across the goal line.

With Pearsall (knee) and Jennings (ankle) shelved, that likely thrusts ex-Rams receiver Demarcus Robinson into the starting lineup with Kendrick Bourne. Robinson soared for a nice catch in Sunday’s debut and excelled throughout camp before his three-game suspension. Bourne vowed to redeem himself after three drops against Jacksonville.

With George Kittle eligible to come off Injured Reserve after this game, tight ends Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell should seize whatever opportunities they get – and hold onto the ball, which Farrell failed to do for the 49ers’ first turnover against Jacksonville.

4. KYREN CAN RUN

McCaffrey isn’t the only one with a recent touchdown hat trick in this matchup at SoFi Stadium. Rams running back Kyren Williams scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) in their 27-24 Week 3 win last season against the visiting 49ers. Williams’ encore saw him run for 108 yards in a 12-6 escape at Levi’s Stadium on Dec. 12.

Williams (68 carries, 303 yards) and Blake Corum (23 carries, 120 yards) have yet to break a run longer than 15 yards, like McCaffrey.

The 49ers’ run defense is coming off a dismal effort. It allowed Travis Etinee to run for 124 yards, the fourth most in the Shanahan era since 2017. The 49ers are being outrushed by 27.5 yards per game, which is their worst mark through four games since 2020, according to the Associated Press’ Josh Dubow.

5. X-FACTORS

Nowhere more than SoFi Stadium have 49ers’ fans reliably populated the majority of an away venue. Those voices must carry loud and proud for the 49ers this game to give them an away-game advantage.

That could irritate the Rams’ offense again into a silent count. The 49ers’ offense, meanwhile, also will have to endure noise, which at least one lineman believes is artificially pumped in, and that claim was echoed by ex-49er long snapper Taybor Pepper on social media this week.

Special teams should not be diminished into “X factor” category, but here we are and they can’t be ignored. The Rams’ kickoff technique is that of a “dirty ball” which is hard to cleanly field and thus messes up blocking schemes. That’s not great if the Rams are scoring a lot to thus kick off, and the 49ers’ return and coverage units remain sub-par.

The 49ers are 2-0 on the road this season, and their 22 away-game wins since 2021 are the third-most in the NFL.