MVN: Most Valuable Network

Cellar dwellers, last placers or whatever you want to call these two teams. It's going to be a battle of two teams that are just struggling to get back on the right track. Imagine that earlier this decade, this game might be featured on national TV. Now we have this as just an afterthought. Which of these two teams are going to come out on top?

The first storyline that everyone is talking about is WR Isaac Bruce and his first meeting against his former team. He has been very calm and not too talkative about the rematch, but I know there is an incentive to do well agains the Rams. Bruce has starting to become another focal point of the team's offense as the youth movement is happening at quarterback. With WR Jason Hill and Dominique Zeigler starting to get a lot more looks, expect Bruce to be the mentor and leader of the young receiving core.

But another revisit is offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Putting aside what happened on Monday night, Martz has been able to put together a potential pass attack with the 49ers. He can look back at one of his pupils in Marc Bulger and see what a great quarterback he has turned into. Now he has to show the Rams that he can do the same thing now with QB Shaun Hill.

The Rams, who are near bottom in nearly every offensive category and ranked 30th in defense will try to prevent the 49ers from getting back on track. However, they will have to do it without RB Steven Jackson. He hasn't been officially ruled out, but we can expect him to not play this week.

In what used to be a great passing attack from the Rams has now been very turned into just mediocrity. Rookie WR Donnie Avery leads the team in reception yards while vet Torry Holt is on pace to have one of his worst years of his career.

But that should not make the 49ers take a step back in their aggressive approach on defense. Against the Cardinals, the Cards' three top receivers had a field day. The 49ers must shut down the Rams and more importantly, pressure Bulger. If they can get anything on him, the developing 49ers offense will get enough points.

I say the 49ers win this one and send St. Louis home with at least a 10-point defeat. But let's go for more!

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