49ERS TODAY

VS. ST. LOUIS RAMS

Time: 1:05 p.m.

TV: Ch. 2

Radio: KNBR 680-AM, KSAN 107.7-FM

THE LINE: 49ers by 6½

THE SERIES: The Rams lead 60-55-2

LAST MEETING: The 49ers lost, 13-9, and coach Mike Nolan came under criticism for passing up a fourth-down opportunity to kick a field goal with less than two minutes remaining in the game to pull to within four points. The Rams held Frank Gore to just 32 yards on 15 carries at Candlestick Park.

Rams: LB Chris Draft (foot), CB Tye Hill (knee), RB Steven Jackson (thigh), DE Eric Moore (spine) are out; T John Greco (knee) is questionable; DT Adam Carriker (ankle), QB Trent Green (right elbow), RB Antonio Pittman (hamstring), WR Derek Stanley (ankle) are probable.

49ers: WR Josh Morgan (groin), WR Arnaz Battle (foot), S Dashon Goldson (knee) are out; TE Delanie Walker (shoulder), T Barry Sims (ankle) are doubtful; S Mark Roman (groin) is questionable; RB Frank Gore (neck) is probable.

Interim coaches Mike Singletary and Jim Haslett are trying to bolster their cases for permanent jobs.

RAMS (2-7): St. Louis is coming off an embarrassing 47-3 loss to the New York Jets. The Rams trailed 40-0 at halftime. The team’s best player, running back Steven Jackson, is out of action with a thigh injury. He did not even make the trip to the Bay Area. Antonio Pittman got the start in Jackson’s place. He managed just 28 yards rushing on 13 carries last week. Quarterback Marc Bulger has retained the starting job for at least another week. He completed just six of 14 passes for 65 yards and an interception before getting the hook last week. Statistically, the Rams have the worst team in the NFL. They rank 31st in the league in total offense and 30th in defense. They’re 30th in the league in scoring offense and last in the league in points allowed.

49ERS (2-7): The 49ers have lost six consecutive games, including two in a row under Singletary. The club showed some promising signs Monday night before a late-fourth-quarter collapse in a 29-24 loss to the division-leading Arizona Cardinals. Quarterback Shaun Hill did a lot of good things, but he also committed three fourth-quarter turnovers that doomed the 49ers. Gore nursed a sore neck throughout the week, but he believes his play today will not be affected. Singletary will continue to want offensive coordinator Mike Martz to stress the power running game. Defensively, the 49ers have been unable to get much pressure on the quarterback. They have recorded just 10 sacks in the past eight games. Justin Smith has been the most consistent pass-rusher with three sacks and a team-leading 30 pressures.

“The only other changes that we’re going to make is that we’re just going to continue to get better. And getting better means that we have to do this a little better and do that a little better. But other than that, no.”

— Singletary on whether he would make any changes in communication from booth to sideline after last-minute meltdown against Cardinals.

THE RAMS WILL WIN IF . . . The 49ers continue their alarming trend of fourth-quarter turnovers.

THE 49ERS WILL WIN IF . . . Gore has a big game against the Rams’ 30th-ranked run defense.

LT Joe Staley vs. DE Chris Long

Staley was a first-round pick in ’07. Long, the No. 2 overall pick, is coming on against the run and as a pass-rusher in the past several weeks.

CB Nate Clements vs. WR Torry Holt

Holt has been a victim of the Rams’ horrendous offense. He caught just one pass for 5 yards last week against the Jets. Clements has been up and down this season.

WR Jason Hill vs. CB Jason Craft

The slot receiver gets a lot of action in Martz’s offense, and Hill came through in his first game in that role. Craft, a nine-year veteran, is assigned to the slot receiver.