After staunching out the Arizona Cardinals last week, the Niners head to St. Louis to try to get ahead at the expense of the reeling Rams and bolt further ahead in the race for the NFC West.

* San Francisco vs. St. Louis
Sunday, September 16, 2007. 10:00 AM, PST.
Week 02
The Battle Of Overcoming

STL has been hit hard by the injury bug. Their players've been dropping by the wayside as quickly as our government's rationales for the Iraq war! The Rams already lost their best player, all-world offensive line cornerstone Orlando Pace, for the year with a shoulder injury. WR Torry Holt's knee is bothering him, OLB Pisa Tinoisamoa's ankle is tweaked, WR Issac Bruce is old, and CB Tye Hill just broke a bone in his back during practice. Broke his back. Yiii.

Needless to say, this is a team that the even the sluggish 49er team from the first three-quarters of the week 1 game against Arizona might match up favorable against. The Rams will only be dressing three cornerbacks for this game fer-pete's-sake!

But here's where things become even darker for the Rams' chances: RB Frank Gore's mother Liz passed away this week. She was the guiding light in his life, and the strong matriarch of his family. Knowing Frank's ferocious drive to do his best on the field for sake of his team and his family and those who believe in him, we fear for those who dare to stand in his path this Sunday.

Next up on your American Football Spectacular: The Oakland Raiders go to the mile-high city of Denver where a most-evil blocking scheme lurks, built to break men's hearts, knees, and fantasy teams...