* San Francisco vs. St. Louis
Sunday, November 26, 2006. 10:00 AM, PST.
Week 12
The Battle Of Momentum

Wow, after beating the Seahawks last weekend, the Niners are riding a wave of hope unseen in these parts since the surprises of the Mooch era. Three game winning streak! Wow. The defense has simplified and held together. The offense has minimized mistakes and they hit the opposition directly in the mouth with power running.

Head Coach Nolan II's master plan to turn the 49ers into the West Coast Ravens appears to be a year ahead of schedule. The Niners are beating teams with more talent then themselves, and are no longer laughingstocks. Fans are upbeat, and despite the stadium crap, right now it feels pretty good to be among the 49er Faithful.

This week to St. Louis go the Niners, where the Rams have come apart as thoroughly as succulent turkey falls off the bone.

Despite a bunch of impressive "skill players" preexisting on their offense, the Rams can't get it together with their regime change. Their new offensive scheme is sputtering behind a dinged-up o-line. STL LT Orlando Pace, one of the NFL's best, is lost for the season with a triceps injury.

By SFist Christopher Rogers for "American Football Spectacular," contributing