Why watch: Mike Singletary is making sure his young players get seasoning. Those players -- Jason Hill, Josh Morgan, Chilo Rachal, etc. -- should figure heavily next season.

Rewind: With the 49ers down 13-6 at the two-minute warning last Nov. 18, then-coach Mike Nolan decided to kick a field goal and hope for a successful onside kick rather than try to tie the score. The onside kick failed, but the 49ers got the ball back. A last-second throw into the end zone was picked off, sealing a 13-9 St. Louis win.

WHO'S THE MAN? Mike Martz 49ers OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR Not only is he under fire for his team's last-second fizzle in the desert Monday, he goes up against the team where he became famous. Expect lots of shots of Martz in today's telecast.

49ers THREE KEYS The 49ers' offensive line went a full game without allowing a sack last week, the first time since December 2006 that has happened. Left tackle Joe Staley said the unit played its best game of the season.

Jason Hill reminded 49ers fans why the team made him a third-round draft pick last year with a seven-catch performance Monday. The second-year wide receiver will get another chance to shine with Arnaz Battle out with a foot injury.

Frank Gore quietly had 99 rushing yards against the Cardinals. He'll try to shake off a neck injury against a Rams defense that is ranked 30th against the run.

Rams THREE KEYS Benched earlier this year, quarterback Marc Bulger is back, but he's not his usual self. Bulger has just six touchdown passes and a ho-hum 73.5 passer rating.

With running back Steven Jackson not making the trip to San Francisco because of a thigh injury, Antonio Pittman will start.

Rookie defensive end Chris Long is second on the team with four sacks. The second overall pick in the April draft, he'll be matched against left tackle Joe Staley.

MATCHUP TO WATCH 49ers cornerback Walt Harris vs. Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery Who's the Rams' most productive wide receiver this season? If you guessed Torry Holt, you'd be wrong by 40 yards. Rookie Donnie Avery, whom the 49ers coached in the Senior Bowl, leads the team with 392 yards. Avery is a speedster who is still developing a rapport with quarterback Marc Bulger. Teams have been picking on Harris this season, mostly because they are wary of throwing toward fellow cornerback Nate Clements. With Clements on Holt, Bulger should look for Avery often.

INJURY REPORT 49ers Out: S Dashon Goldson (knee), WR Arnaz Battle (foot), WR Josh Morgan (groin). Doubtful: T Barry Sims (foot), TE Delanie Walker (elbow). Questionable: S Mark Roman (groin). Probable: RB Frank Gore (neck).

Rams Out: LB Chris Draft (foot), CB Tye Hill (knee), RB Steven Jackson (thigh), DE Eric Moore (spine). Questionable: T John Greco (knee). Probable: WR Derek Stanley (ankle), DT Adam Carriker (ankle), QB Trent Green (elbow), RB Antonio Pittman (hamstring).

49ers STATISTICS PASSING Player Att. Comp. Yards TDs Int. J.T. O'Sullivan 219 128 1,678 8 11 Shaun Hill 63 34 390 3 2

RUSHING Player Att. Yards TDs Avg. Frank Gore 159 728 4 4.6

RECEIVING Player Rec. Yards TDs Avg. Frank Gore 33 317 1 9.6 Isaac Bruce 25 413 4 16.5 Arnaz Battle 24 318 0 13.3

Rams STATISTICS PASSING Player Att. Comp. Yards TDs Int. Marc Bulger 213 120 1,373 6 6

RUSHING Player Att. Yards TDs Avg. Steven Jackson 128 525 4 4.1

RECEIVING Player Rec. Yards TDs Avg. Torry Holt 33 352 2 10.7 Donnie Avery 25 392 2 15.7 Steven Jackson 25 259 0 10.4

49ers SCHEDULE Sept. 7 Arizona L, 23-13 Sept. 14 at Seattle W, 33-30 Sept. 21 Detroit W, 31-13 Sept. 28 at New Orleans L, 31-17 Oct. 5 New England L, 30-21 Oct. 12 Philadelphia L, 40-26 Oct. 19 at N.Y.Giants L, 29-17 Oct. 26 Seattle L, 34-13 Nov. 2 BYE Nov. 10 at Arizona L, 29-24 Today St. Louis 1:05 p.m. Nov. 23 at Dallas 10 a.m. Nov. 30 at Buffalo 10 a.m. Dec. 7 N.Y. Jets 1:05 p.m. Dec. 14 at Miami 10 a.m. Dec. 21 at St. Louis 10 a.m. Dec. 28 Washington 1:15 p.m.