Football on Monday night is getting to play in the spotlight. There are no other games to compete with. For the San Francisco 49ers, Monday Night Football has been kind. The 49ers have played in 78 games on Monday Night Football with a record of 49-29. They are currently tied with the Dallas Cowboys for second place in NFL history with 49 wins. The Steelers lead with 53 wins. For the 49ers, Monday will mark the 14th occasion they will face the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams under the lights. Today we preview Monday's matchup as the 49ers get ready to host the rival Rams in Santa Clara.

Mounting Pressure

A key for a 49ers victory on Monday night will be their ability to generate a pass rush on defense while neutralizing the pass rush on offense. The Rams offense looks drastically different with Matthew Stafford as quarterback rather than Jared Goff. Stafford's consistency in his play has been a driving force for Sean McVay's offense and is a major reason why the Rams sit firmly in the playoff picture. San Francisco needs to generate pressure without exposing too much on the back-end. The 49ers need a big game from defensive end Nick Bosa and the rest of the defensive line. Preseason talk focused on the amazing potential of the defensive line. Yet the 49ers are in the middle of the pack in generating pressure but near the bottom in opponent passer rating. Expect an array of pressure packages from defensive coordinator Demeco Ryans.

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On offense, the 49ers need to keep the pocket clean. The Rams enter their second game with Von Miller on the roster alongside Superman incarnate, Aaron Donald. Expect the Rams to attack the right side of the San Francisco offensive line. Starting right tackle, Mike McGlinchey is out for the season following a torn quad. His replacement last week was veteran lineman Tom Compton. The veteran struggled mightily in relief and this week's opponent offers no rest. If rookie Jaylon Moore gets the start, the Rams will remain committed to attacking that side of the line to take advantage of Moore's inexperience. Combine that with the turnstile-esque play frequently provided by right guard Daniel Brunskill and the 49ers have their challenge. A clean pocket means a chance to get the passing game going. If not, it'll be a long day for the 49ers offense.

Gound the Ball

The 49ers have followed a basic formula in their recent victories over the Rams. San Francisco gets the ground game going via jet sweeps and quick throws to near the line of scrimmage. The screens and swing routes serve as extended hand-offs and allow the 49ers offense to get the ball to their playmakers in space. Expect more of the same on Monday night. San Francisco's ground game has been a bit of a surprise this season as it has been led by rookie Elijah Mitchell. The 49ers have dealt with numerous injuries at running back and have often found themselves trailing so the ground game has not been used as heavily as many would have predicted. However, the 49ers need to remain committed to slowing down the Los Angeles offense by sustaining long drives. The key to that is the ground game.

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San Francisco's ability to run the football opens up the quick passing game. The Rams may have lost their dynamo defensive coordinator to the neighbor Chargers but the roster remains filled with talented players such as Donald, Miller, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. San Francisco's head coach, Kyle Shanahan, will need to keep the Rams defensive line moving laterally with the hope that Mitchell and the ground game can find holes in the run game. A San Francisco victory will hinge on how the ground game performs. A robust rushing attack will keep the defense guessing by allowing the 49ers offense to stay ahead of the chains and call the full offense.

High Energy

The 49ers have struggled for much of the season with slow starts. Whether on offense or defense, the team has started games in neutral, often resulting in early deficits. It happened last week against Arizona. The Rams offense is just as explosive and could leave the 49ers in the dust. On a Monday night, in front of a national audience, the 49ers need to start fast and aggressive. If San Francisco can keep it close, the confidence and belief will only grow stronger. The 49ers have been a thorn in the side of the Rams over the last few years and an early lead could put doubts in the minds of Los Angeles. San Francisco is the obvious underdog with nothing to lose. If that isn't enough to get a tremendous effort then nothing else will.

Prediction: 49ers fall, 33-13

– Ryan Adverderada is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage 49ers. Like and follow on Follow @ryanadverderada