According to a post-game report today by cbssports.com, St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo says the Rams have:

“character and fight…to build anything, the base has to have a rock-solid foundation and that’s there,” he said.  “We’ve got to wait eight months to play a game, but I’m glad that’s there.”

The question in St. Louis right now is who will be the head coach for that game in eight months?  

That decision is expected to be announced on Monday, according to a report by Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who cites league sources.  

In three seasons under Steve Spagnuolo, the Rams went 10-38.  

Hopes were high in St. Louis entering 2011.  

Many picked the Rams to win the NFC West.  Michael Lombardi of the NFL Network asserted that St. Louis would be the league’s breakout team.  

However, the Rams faltered during an 0-6 start before winning two of three, including the season’s biggest win, an upset victory at the Edward Jones Dome over record-setting Drew Brees and the playoff-bound New Orleans Saints. 

But then they lost their final seven contests, including the finale today at home versus NFC West champion San Francisco.  

In Spagnuolo’s defense, however, the Rams players never seemed to quit and the roster was ravaged by injuries throughout the year.

Some notable players lost for the season include Sam Bradford’s top receiving target, Danny Amendola (as well as rookie Greg Salas), the teams’ top three cornerbacks (Ron Bartell, Bradley Fletcher and Jerome Murphy) and both starting offensive tackles (Rodger Saffold, Jason Smith)—among others.

The team also lost three-time Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson for several games before suffering long-term injuries to quarterbacks Sam Bradford and A.J. Feeley.

With that said, 2-14 is still 2-14. And 10-38 is still 10-38.  

In the NFL, it’s the bottom line that counts. And the bottom line doesn’t look good for Spagnuolo’s Rams. Expect him to be relieved of his head coaching duties as early as Monday.

According to a report by Albert Breer of the NFL Network, Jeff Fisher is ready to return to coaching. The St. Louis Rams and San Diego Chargers are listed as possible options for Fisher.  

Shane Gray covers the St. Louis Rams year round. To check out the rest of his work, go here.  You are also encouraged to follow him here on Twitter.   

 

ST. LOUIS (AP)

Good thing the San Francisco 49ers opened the playbook in the finale.

Record-setting kicker David Akers showed off a strong left arm to match his left leg in a 34-27 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday as Michael Crabtree bamboozled defenders on a perfectly executed trick play for a touchdown.

It appeared to be the icing on a dominating performance that wrapped up the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC and a first-round bye. Instead, it helped build just enough of a cushion against the usually offensive-challenged St. Louis Rams.

Crabtree caught scoring passes from Akers and Alex Smith for the 49ers, whose 24-point fourth quarter lead was in jeopardy before they sealed the victory.

Akers broke the NFL single-season field goal record last week and finished with 44, including five in the first half of the two St. Louis meetings. He missed on a 48-yarder, but clicked from 36 and 42 yards.

Crabtree and Vernon Davis had big days for a team short of pass catchers and Tarell Brown had a pair of interceptions that led to touchdowns as the 49ers (13-3) beat the Rams (2-14) for the second time in five games. The 49ers held St. Louis to just 157 total yards in a 26-0 victory that clinched the NFC West in Week 12 but were hanging on at the finish of the rematch after the Rams scored two touchdowns in just 13 seconds.

Brandon Lloyd caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Kellen Clemens, the Rams recovered Josh Brown’s onside kick and Cadillac Williams scored on a 1-yard run with 4:39 to go one play after drawing an interference call on Brown on an underthrown pass from Clemens in the end zone.

The Rams were rescued from the ignominy of landing the No. 1 draft pick for the second time in three years when the Colts (2-14) lost 19-13 to the Jaguars. The Colts hold the tiebreaker based on opponents’ strength of schedule.

The 49ers’ record under new coach Jim Harbaugh is their best since another 13-win season in 1997 under another rookie coach, Steve Mariucci.

The Rams scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, six better than their NFL-low game average, but were down to untested Tom Brandstater and third-and-17 after Clemens injured his right leg on a sack by NaVorro Bowman with 2:46 to go. Brandstater threw two incompletions, the 49ers took over at their own 40 and needed just one first down to seal it – and exhale.

San Francisco seemingly had cemented the win in the final minute of the third quarter on Akers’ first career touchdown pass for a 27-10 lead. The 49ers finished 6-2 on the road, the franchise’s best showing since 1996.

Harbaugh is just the fourth rookie head coach to win 13 games and third by the 49ers, topped by George Seifert’s 14-2 showing in 1989.

Clemens ran for an 18-yard score to give the Rams the early lead. Clemens made his third straight start in place with Sam Bradford (high left ankle sprain) and A.J. Feeley (broken right thumb) both sidelined. Bradford, the top pick in 2010, missed his fourth straight game and sixth overall.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo is just 10-38 in three seasons and his job is in jeopardy coming off a total bust this year on the heels of a six-win improvement last season. Attendance was announced as 55,990, about 9,000 shy of capacity at the Edward Jones Dome, but the stadium appeared no better than half-full and drained quickly in the second half.

The 49ers won without injured wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr. (ankle) and Kyle Williams (concussion), and with Frank Gore mostly watching and gaining just 9 yards on seven carries. Crabtree had 92 yards on nine receptions and Davis had 118 yards on eight catches, his second 100-yard game of the year.

Crabtree appeared to be walking off the field with the 49ers in field goal formation but stopped just shy of the sideline and lined up alone, allowing him to amble into the end zone on a 13-yard catch on Akers’ first career touchdown pass in 205 games.

Steven Jackson had 76 yards on 16 carries, a huge improvement over the first meeting against the 49ers in early December when he was held to 19 yards on 10 carries, before injuring his left arm in the third quarter. It appeared Jackson was hurt after dropping a low screen pass and then tackled hard by a pair of 49ers.

The 49ers began drives inside the St. Louis 35 on their first two touchdowns, and capitalized on Terrell Brown’s interception of a flea flicker from running back Jerious Norwood to Clemens on the go-ahead score. Two plays after the pick, Crabtree slipped Josh Gordy’s tackle on a sideline pattern and Quintin Mikell also missed on a 28-yarder that made it 14-7.

Clemens showed some nifty moves while dodging tackles on an 18-yard scramble for the Rams’ first rushing touchdown in three weeks and the early lead, and Smith matched him on an 8-yarder in the final minute of the first quarter. Smith slipped and fell in the pocket but recovered in plenty of time and benefited from Gore’s nice block on linebacker Chris Chamberlain at the goal line.

Notes: Gary Pinkel, who coached the 49ers’ Aldon Smith and the Rams’ Danario Alexander at Missouri, was on the sideline before the game. … The Rams cancelled the usual pregame pep rally and live music outside the stadium because of high gusting winds. … 49ers FB Bruce Miller (left knee) was sidelined in the second quarter, but was in uniform testing it with sprints before halftime.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Good thing the San Francisco 49ers opened the playbook in the finale.

Record-setting kicker
David Akers
showed off a strong left arm to match his left leg in a 34-27 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday as
Michael Crabtree
bamboozled defenders on a perfectly executed trick play for a touchdown.

It appeared to be the icing on a dominating performance that wrapped up the No. 2 playoff seed in the NFC and a first-round
bye. Instead, it helped build just enough of a cushion against the usually offensive-challenged St. Louis Rams.

Crabtree caught scoring passes from Akers and
Alex Smith
for the 49ers, whose 24-point fourth quarter lead was in jeopardy before they sealed the victory.

Akers broke the NFL single-season field goal record last week and finished with 44, including five in the first half of the
two St. Louis meetings. He missed on a 48-yarder, but clicked from 36 and 42 yards.

Crabtree and
Vernon Davis
had big days for a team short of pass catchers and
Tarell Brown
had a pair of interceptions that led to touchdowns as the 49ers (13-3) beat the Rams (2-14) for the second time in five games.
The 49ers held St. Louis to just 157 total yards in a 26-0 victory that clinched the NFC West in Week 12 but were hanging
on at the finish of the rematch after the Rams scored two touchdowns in just 13 seconds.

Brandon Lloyd
caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from
Kellen Clemens
, the Rams recovered
Josh Brown
‘s on-side kick and Cadillac Williams scored on a 1-yard run with 4:39 to go one play after drawing an interference call on
Brown on an underthrown pass from Clemens in the end zone.

The Rams were rescued from the ignominy of landing the No. 1 draft pick for the second time in three years when the Colts
(2-14) lost 19-13 to the Jaguars. The Colts hold the tiebreaker based on opponents’ strength of schedule.

The 49ers’ record under new coach Jim Harbaugh is their best since another 13-win season in 1997 under another rookie coach,
Steve Mariucci.

The Rams scored 17 points in the fourth quarter, six better than their NFL-low game average, but were down to untested
Tom Brandstater
and third-and-17 after Clemens injured his right leg on a sack by NaVorro Bowman with 2:46 to go. Brandstater threw two incompletions,
the 49ers took over at their own 40 and needed just one first down to seal it – and exhale.

San Francisco seemingly had cemented the win in the final minute of the third quarter on Akers’ first career touchdown pass
for a 27-10 lead. The 49ers finished 6-2 on the road, the franchise’s best showing since 1996.

Harbaugh is just the fourth rookie head coach to win 13 games and third by the 49ers, topped by George Seifert’s 14-2 showing
in 1989.

Clemens ran for an 18-yard score to give the Rams the early lead. Clemens made his third straight start in place with
Sam Bradford
(high left ankle sprain) and A.J. Feeley (broken right thumb) both sidelined. Bradford, the top pick in 2010, missed his fourth
straight game and sixth overall.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo is just 10-38 in three seasons and his job is in jeopardy coming off a total bust this year on the heels
of a six-win improvement last season. Attendance was announced as 55,990, about 9,000 shy of capacity at the Edward Jones
Dome, but the stadium appeared no better than half-full and drained quickly in the second half.

The 49ers won without injured wide receivers Ted Ginn Jr. (ankle) and
Kyle Williams
(concussion), and with
Frank Gore
mostly watching and gaining just 9 yards on seven carries. Crabtree had 92 yards on nine receptions and Davis had 118 yards
on eight catches, his second 100-yard game of the year.

Crabtree appeared to be walking off the field with the 49ers in field goal formation but stopped just shy of the sideline
and lined up alone, allowing him to amble into the end zone on a 13-yard catch on Akers’ first career touchdown pass in 205
games.

Steven Jackson
had 76 yards on 16 carries, a huge improvement over the first meeting against the 49ers in early December when he was held
to 19 yards on 10 carries, before injuring his left arm in the third quarter. It appeared Jackson was hurt after dropping
a low screen pass and then tackled hard by a pair of 49ers.

The 49ers began drives inside the St. Louis 35 on their first two touchdowns, and capitalized on Terrell Brown’s interception
of a flea flicker from running back
Jerious Norwood
to Clemens on the go-ahead score. Two plays after the pick, Crabtree slipped
Josh Gordy
‘s tackle on a sideline pattern and
Quintin Mikell
also missed on a 28-yarder that made it 14-7.

Clemens showed some nifty moves while dodging tackles on an 18-yard scramble for the Rams’ first rushing touchdown in three
weeks and the early lead, and Smith matched him on an 8-yarder in the final minute of the first quarter. Smith slipped and
fell in the pocket but recovered in plenty of time and benefited from Gore’s nice block on linebacker
Chris Chamberlain
at the goal line.

Notes: Gary Pinkel, who coached the 49ers’
Aldon Smith
and the Rams’
Danario Alexander
at Missouri, was on the sideline before the game. … The Rams cancelled the usual pregame pep rally and live music outside
the stadium because of high gusting winds. … 49ers FB
Bruce Miller
(left knee) was sidelined in the second quarter, but was in uniform testing it with sprints before halftime.

© 2011 STATS LLC

ST. LOUIS — A month ago, the San Francisco 49ers became the first team to clinch its division, shutting out the St. Louis Rams to win the NFC West. Beat them again in the finale, and there’s a nice bonus for the Niners: the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye.

Sure, they’re in. There’s still plenty of incentive for a franchise that’s made a rapid rise to the top under rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh.

“Anytime you could lock up a bye, you’d take it,” quarterback Alex Smith said. “Great opportunity for us, we’ve just got to go seize it.”

They couldn’t have picked a more vulnerable opponent.

The bedraggled Rams (2-13) are in danger of a dubious honor – landing the No. 1 pick in the draft for the second time in three years. All it’ll take is dropping their seventh in a row and the Colts winning at Jacksonville and again they will be at the bottom of the barrel.

St. Louis, just 10-37 under third-year coach Steve Spagnuolo and 12-51 with fourth-year general manager Billy Devaney, could be on the verge of a housecleaning. That’s led to a lot of questions this week about trying to save Spags’ job.

“We don’t worry about things we can’t control,” middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “He’s that way, we’re that way. We’re just going to go out there and play our rear ends off.”

Owner Stan Kroenke has been silent on the subject of what comes next for the Rams, who had been viewed as a franchise on the rise after last year’s six-win improvement. Now they’re playing to a half-full stadium and reduced to muttering about injuries that have decimated the secondary and offensive line besides a persistent high left ankle sprain that almost assuredly will knock out quarterback Sam Bradford for a sixth game.

Attendance is likely to be more sparse than usual given the noon CST start coming off New Year’s Eve partying. The Rams asked Thursday for a 24-hour extension to meet NFL sellout requirements.

The 49ers (12-3) have already doubled their win total from a disappointing 2010 season, and even with a loss can get the No. 2 seed and bye if the Saints lose at home against the Panthers. If they can repeat the performance from the 26-0 whipping they handed out in San Francisco, Harbaugh would be just the fourth coach in NFL history to win 13 games in his first year. Two 49ers coaches have already done it, George Seifert going 14-2 in 1989 and Steve Mariucci at 13-3 in 1997.

San Francisco could also land its first 13-win season since ‘97. A sixth road win would match their total from the previous three seasons, rewarding them for attention to detail.

“The biggest thing that I’d point to is a lot of little reasons that a lot of people think are the minutia that aren’t important that add up to make all the difference,” Harbaugh said. “And our guys continually do the little things, and they stack on each other and they build on each other. And lo and behold, you win games in high pressure situations, or find ways to do enough things right to win games and get better.

“Enough of those things lead to championships.”

The 49ers are stout on defense, on pace for a franchise record while allowing a league-low 13.5 points per game, and sound on offense behind come-back quarterback Alex Smith. They lead the NFL with a plus-26 turnover ratio, with the most takeaways (36) and the fewest turnovers (10) in the league.

Aldon Smith has 14 sacks, one shy of the NFL rookie record. Cornerback Carlos Rogers and free safety Dashon Goldson, two of the 49ers’ four Pro Bowl starters on defense, have six interceptions apiece.

Kicker David Akers, who has set an NFL record with 42 field goals, and punter Andy Lee are both Pro Bowlers, too.

They’ve stayed healthy, too, with 30 players appearing in every game and 12 making every start. That dwarfs the Rams’ totals of 14 and four. The 49ers have eight Pro Bowl representatives, the Rams none.

“They’ve put it together and you get on a roll,” Spagnuolo said. “It works both ways. You get on a roll winning, confidence and boom, boom, things are working and clicking.

“It happens the other way, too, where you can’t really find any continuity.”

The 49ers have won six of seven in a series knotted at 61-61-2, and Frank Gore always seems to get some of his best days against the Rams, totaling 832 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games. He’ll be facing a defense in danger of setting a franchise record for rushing yards allowed in a season.

The Rams have been giving up an NFL-worst 154.5 yards per game and if they surrender 159 yards it’ll break the previous franchise worst in 2008. The 49ers got 144 yards the first time around.

The 49ers’ biggest worry might be encountering an opponent trying anything and everything to finish with a good taste.

“They have nothing to lose, so they can come out with whatever,” linebacker Patrick Willis said. “For us, there’s a lot riding on this game. We have to come out and play like we have all season. We know what’s at stake.”

Most every week, the Rams stay in it for a while and then a key play or two goes the wrong way and it snowballs to the finish of another failure. That was the case in the first meeting when the 49ers were held to three field goals in the first half, then busted loose with a pair of big plays – pass plays of 52 and 56 yards to Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams.

Special teams have sprung several leaks in recent weeks, and the offense is the NFL’s worst, averaging just 11 points with 15 touchdowns in 15 games. They’re coming off a 27-0 loss at Pittsburgh, the second time they’ve been shut out the last month.

It’s been a complete bust of a comeback season for new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

“No regrets, no regrets,” McDaniels said. “Every year is different, every year is a challenge in this league. You have to do everything you can to try to help the team win.”

More slogging lies ahead. The Rams totaled just 157 yards and were just 3 for 13 on third down in the first meeting against San Francisco.

Steven Jackson became the seventh player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in seven straight seasons last week. Against the 49ers, he got just 19 yards on 10 carries.

“It was what we expected and they gave us exactly that,” Jackson said. “We’re going to have another tough time on Sunday but as long as you keep them balanced, and keep them out of what they want to do, we’ll be fine.”

Journeyman Kellen Clemens is expected to get his third straight start at quarterback. He passed for 91 yards last week in a 27-0 loss to the Steelers after throwing for 229 yards and a touchdown the previous week in a 20-13 loss to Cincinnati.

“If there’s a defense that’s better than Pittsburgh,” Clemens said, “we’re playing them this week.”

 

The outcome of Sunday’s regular-season finale at St. Louis will go a long way in boosting the 49ers’ chances for playoff success. 

A win would guarantee a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the subsequent game. With the blazing hot Saints as a possible opponent, any sort of advantage will be welcomed with open arms.  

A loss could drop them to the No. 3 seed for a likely rematch with the Detroit Lions and Coach Schwartz. As entertaining as another Harbaugh-Schwartz handshake sounds, the 49ers are looking to beat the host Rams. 

When the two teams met in early December, it was smooth sailing for the 49ers as they shutout the Rams 26-0 in Candlestick Park. This time around may prove to be a little more challenging for the 49ers who are battling through several injuries at key positions. Then again, the Rams are also dinged-up and, with a 2-13 record, look primed for a shot at the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft.    

Injuries will be a decisive factor in Sunday’s result between the NFC West rivals.  

49ers Injury Report

Out:

TE Delanie Walker (jaw)

Questionable:

CB Chris Culliver

WR Ted Ginn (ankle)

FB Bruce Miller (knee)

CB Carlos Rogers (knee)

WR Kyle Williams (concussion)

LB Patrick Willis (hamstring)

Outlook

The 49ers are floss-thin at the wide receiver position with the absence of Ginn, Williams, and Edwards who was released earlier this week. As a result, Brett Swain will slide into the starting spot opposite Michael Crabtree and Joe Hastings will be promoted from the practice squad.

Swain, added to the team after the Josh Morgan injury, has seen the field mostly on special teams and has only one reception for nine yards on the season. Hastings, an un-drafted rookie out of Division II Washburn University, will be making his NFL debut.

Despite the inexperience, the young receivers will need to step up as the Rams’ defense will shift their focus towards playmakers Vernon Davis and Crabtree. 

Look for star linebacker Willis to sit another game in hopes of being full strength come playoff time. He will be missed, but Larry Grant has stepped up and made plays for a top-ranked defense. The others on the list have been limited in practice throughout the week but should be ready to contribute on Sunday. 

Rams Injury Report

Doubtful:

QB Sam Bradford (ankle)

QB AJ Feeley (right thumb)

Questionable:

DE Chris Long (ankle)

Probable:

CB Josh Gordy (abdomen)

RB Jerious Norwood (illness)

LB Brady Poppinga (illness)

Outlook

Quarterback Sam Bradford will miss his sixth start in what has been a disastrous season for the former No. 1 pick. A Rams win would save Bradford’s job, but a loss could lead to the selection of QB Andrew Luck in the upcoming draft. 

With backup AJ Feeley also sidelined, Kellen Clemens should get his second consecutive start. For the Rams to have any chance at a victory, Clemens must improve on last week’s performance that saw him complete 9 of 24 passes for a measly 91 yards and zero touchdowns. 

The Rams will also need defensive end Chris Long to play and continue wreaking havoc on opposing quarterbacks—13 total sacks on the season and counting. 

Prediction

Injuries aside, the 49ers are the superior team and will prove that this week. It’s never easy to win on the road in the NFL, but this is as close as it gets. Look for the 49ers to jump out to an early lead behind a balanced attack through the air with Alex Smith and on the ground with Frank Gore. The Rams will then have to rely on the arm of Clemens, a recipe for disaster as the 49ers defense is constantly on the prowl for turnovers. 

The 49ers’ New Year’s Eve celebration will continue Sunday as they emerge victorious and the Rams will get a head start in making their New Year’s resolutions.

Prediction Within a Prediction

Needing only one sack to tie the NFL rookie record for sacks in a season, Aldon Smith will go the extra mile in gathering two sacks to break the record previously held by Jevon Kearse. 

Final score: San Francisco 27, St. Louis 7