The 49ers head to the St. Louis hoping to extend their overwhelming dominance in this once-competitive and entertaining divisional rivalry.

The 49ers own a one-game edge in the overall standings (49-48-2, including playoffs) between these clubs and are an imposing 30-7 (including 1-0 in playoffs) vs. the Rams since 1981, defeating them 17 straight times dating back to the teams' second meeting in 1990.

A year ago, the Niners swept this divisional setting for the eighth straight year. In Week 8 at the TWA Dome, 49ers' QB Steve Young threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns (2 INTs) and the St. Louis' offense managed just 168 total yards while coughing up the football four times (including 3 interceptions by since-departed Rams' QB Tony Banks) as Steve Mariucci's team coasted to a 28-10 victory.

Nine weeks later at 3Com Park (Week 17), Young threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns, plus ran 16 yards for another score, as San Francisco completed the sweep, 38-19.

The 49ers have won 12 straight and 17 of their last 18 games on the Rams' home fields (Anaheim Stadium, Busch Stadium and TWA Dome) dating back to '81.

The Rams' last victory in this series came in 1990 at San Francisco, a 28-17 upset triumph over the then-undefeated (10-0) and two-time defending Super Bowl champion 49ers.

Numbers: In 13 starts vs. the Rams as a 49er, QB Steve Young has thrown for 3,365 yards, 28 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions, plus rushed 55 times for 292 yards and 5 touchdowns. Dating back to 1997 (including playoffs), San Francisco's offense has totaled 101 touchdowns and 50 field goals in 30 wins, 13 touchdowns and 14 field goals in 10 losses. Including playoffs, WR Terrell Owens has scored at least 1 touchdown in 14 of his last 18 contests dating back to '98. Including playoffs, 49ers have allowed 54 sacks in their last 17 games dating back to '98.

The Rams have scored 216 points in seven wins, 169 points in 12 losses dating back to '98. The Rams have limited the opposition to 10 or fewer points and fewer than 100 yards rushing in 3 straight games. QB Kurt Warner has thrown three touchdown passes in each of his first 3 games in '99.

Things To Look For: While there were some who thought Dick Vermeil's team would come crashing back to earth at Cincinnati, the Rams showed that they're a different team and manhandled the Bengals. That might not sound like much of an accomplishment, but ending the 49ers' domination of this series would be quite huge, and it starts with Rams' QB Kurt Warner taking aim at San Francisco's shaky secondary.

Etc.: The 49ers have won three straight games. Including playoffs, they are 50-14 vs. NFC West foes since 1990 (1-0 in '99). Including playoffs, the 49ers have won 16 of their last 18 games vs. divisional competition dating back to '97. They have not been shutout in an NFL-record 342 consecutive games. WR Jerry Rice has caught at least one pass in an NFL-record 197 straight games.

The Rams are 3-0 for the first time since 1995. They are just 16-47 vs. divisional competition since 1990 (1-0 in '99). Despite their 3-0 start in 1999, the Rams own a 48-99 record in the 1990s, and with a loss to the 49ers will become just the third team in league history to lose at least 100 games in a given decade (Buccaneers in the 1980s, Bengals in the 1990s).