49ers Won't Overlook the Rams Like the Seahawks did in Week 1

Arguably the most shocking win in Week 1 was the Rams' domination over the Seahawks.

The Rams were supposed to be a team that had little to fear about, but the Seahawks soon learned that there was more to them. I suspect the Seahawks overlooked the Rams, especially since they were home. They probably figured that since they were a playoff caliber team last year that they could cruise to victory over the Rams. Well, they could not have been more wrong.

The 49ers will get their shot at the Rams in Week 2. One thing they most certainly will not do is overlook the Rams like the Seahawks did in Week 1. The 49ers and Seahawks are not cut from the same cloth. One team is used to being playoff caliber with expectations, while the other was arguably lucky to be there last year. It's been five years since the Rams last beat the 49ers in the regular season. Despite that, Kyle Shanahan refuses to view the Rams as an easy outing.

“Aaron Donald being on it would be the number one thing," said Shanahan on the challenges of facing the Rams. "They’ve got some really good players but they're always going to be sound. They're always going to have a good scheme. They're always going to put their players in good positions. Starting with the offense, which is where it starts with Sean, but it's been no different with the defense and special teams either. Those guys are always coached up well, they're ready to go and they know how to put their really good players in real good situations.”

The main reason the Rams upset the Seahawks was due to the valiant performance of Matthew Stafford. His stats were not elite by any measure, but it was a performance that had a major impact throughout. He played a massive role, as well as the Rams' defense, in the victory. Stafford's performance caught the eye of Shanahan after he watched the tape and he was impressed.

“As good as it can be," Shanahan said of Stafford's Week 1 performance. "That was evident why they played so well. He looked like Matt Stafford, which is one of the best quarterbacks to play over the last couple decades.”

Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks shares the same perspective as Shanahan when it comes to the Rams offense.

"I think it all starts with Stafford," said Wilks. "Of course Kupp is out, but... they have capable receivers that can get the job done. And they did a great job last week, controlling, running the football more than they have shown in the past. I think he did an excellent job as far as putting the ball where it needed to be. Great seven-ball route on the sideline. He came down with that. So, it's not so much about really trying to defend certain guys, it's more about the quarterback and what we can do with him.”

There's no way the 49ers will go to go into SoFi Stadium and overlook the Rams. They know they are a team that can bring it and put up a fight. It's a matchup that the 49ers take seriously and give it their all, which is why they haven't lost in so long to them. They take the Rams seriously and the Rams bring the best out of the 49ers.