What looked like a gem of an NFL game six months ago is considerably less attractive now. Rams at San Francisco is no longer a “Sunday Night Football” game. That Oct. 21 matchup will be replaced on NBC by Cincinnati at Kansas City, pitting teams that are currently 4-1 and 5-0. The Rams are the NFC’s only undefeated team, but the 49ers have dropped off sharply after losing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a season-ending knee injury and are 1-4. Advertisement This is the first time the league has used its game-flexing policy this early in the season. Traditionally, the schedule shuffling takes place in the final six weeks of the season. A special provision was put in place after the 2011 season, however, when Indianapolis — which had lost Peyton Manning for what would be the entire season — was beaten by New Orleans 62-7 in a Sunday night stinker. It wasn’t just that Rams-49ers was less attractive, but that both the Chiefs and Bengals have played their way into prime time, especially with the buzz surrounding Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Then again, the Chiefs are going to be on “Sunday Night Football” two weeks in a row, because they also have that spotlight this week at New England. As for the 49ers, they will still get plenty of exposure, with three prime-time games in the next five weeks — two Mondays and a Thursday. When the league flexes out of a Sunday night game, it gives that game to whichever network gave up the replacement Sunday night game. So that means Rams-49ers goes to CBS (which originally had Chiefs-Bengals). CBS already has Dallas at Washington — the result of a cross-flex with Fox — so it will have two marquee NFC games in that 1:25 p.m. national slot. If Cowboys-Redskins turns out to be less interesting, or it goes quickly, CBS could wind up switching to the game in Santa Clara so the entire country can get a look at the Rams. When the NFL makes these types of decisions, it doesn’t do so in a vacuum. So the league will be looking for a way to get the Rams back on national TV. A couple of possibilities could be flexing the Rams into the Sunday night window when they play at Detroit in Week 13 (San Francisco at Seattle is slated for that Sunday night), or when the Rams play at Chicago in Week 14 (Pittsburgh at Oakland). Advertisement It’s highly unlikely the NFL would move Green Bay at Rams to Sunday night in Week 8. That’s the Fox national game, and the Sunday night game is New Orleans at Minnesota. That almost certainly will not budge. sam.farmer@latimes.com Follow Sam Farmer on Twitter @LATimesfarmer<doc-sep>Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury will have an impact on the Los Angeles Rams’ season in more ways than one, including their schedule. According to Adam Schefter, Rams-49ers in Week 7 is being flexed out of the Sunday night spot in favor of Chiefs-Bengals. The Rams game will be moved to 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS. Week 7, Oct. 21, the 4-1 Bengals and 5-0 Chiefs are being flexed to Sunday night, per source. Rams-49ers, which was scheduled for that night, will be moved to 4:25 pm. So it’ll be two straight Sunday night games for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Bengals lone SNF appearance. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 9, 2018 The Week 7 @Bengals at @Chiefs game (October 21) has been flexed to 8:20 PM ET on NBC. Click here for the full Week 7 schedule: https://t.co/rbzy9VHC2B pic.twitter.com/5XiiUddGKk — NFL345 (@NFL345) October 9, 2018 The 49ers look like a completely different team without Garoppolo under center, giving way to C.J. Beathard. The Rams are arguably the most exciting and entertaining team in the NFL right now, but not even their high-flying offense can make up for the lack of national interest in San Francisco. The Rams still have two more primetime games on the schedule in Week 11 against the Chiefs (Monday night) and Week 15 against the Eagles (Sunday night).<doc-sep>SANTA CLARA — So much for the 49ers playing five of their next seven games in prime time. Not even the Los Angeles Rams’ undefeated start was enough to keep their Oct. 21 visit to Levi’s Stadium on NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” and kickoff instead will be at 1:25 p.m. against the injury-depleted 49ers (1-4). The 49ers no longer have Jimmy Garoppolo to show off under the lights. They’ve lost three straight games, starting with the Sept. 23 loss at Kansas City in which their star quarterback sustained a season-ending knee injury. It’s those Chiefs (5-0) who will replace the 49ers as hosts of the Oct. 21, Sunday night game in an AFC matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals (4-1). Don’t be surprised if the 49ers lose their final prime-time kickoff to the NFL’s flex-schedule option, as well. That Dec. 2 game will take place in Seattle, where the 49ers haven’t won since Christmas Eve 2011. Related Articles Have 49ers been priced out of a possible Julio Jones trade? ESPN report suggests steep cost Inside the 49ers: Kittle’s comeback, Shanahan’s doodling, Warner’s extension, Garoppolo’s radio wars Pioneering coach Katie Sowers finds new spot in NFL after leaving 49ers’ staff Fred Warner ‘obviously wants to be a Niner for life’ as contract talks loom How 49ers’ running back stable is impacted by Jeff Wilson’s knee surgery Their other prime-time kickoffs are secure: next Monday night at Green Bay; Thursday, Nov. 1 vs. the Raiders (5:20 p.m., Fox/NFL Network); and, Monday, Nov. 12 vs. the New York Giants (5:15 p.m., ESPN). The 49ers had drawn the league-maximum, five prime-time kickoffs, but that was back in April. This season has gone sideways in the wake of injuries to Garoppolo, Jerick McKinnon and many more. Richard Sherman was used as the 49ers’ face of the franchise in ESPN’s graphic during “Monday Night Football” to promote next Monday’s game against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. An ESPN report Sept. 30 stated that some in the league wanted the 49ers to trade for a higher-profile quarterback such as the Philadelphia Eagles’ Nick Foles to appease prime-time viewers. Television ratings are “definitely the last of our worries,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan responded last week. “If you guys judge us on ratings and everything and they gave us a trophy at the end of the year, a Super Bowl trophy for ratings, then I would maybe think that way. But, that’s not how it works.” The 49ers lost at home to the Rams last year in prime time, a 41-39 doozy on “Thursday Night Football” on Sept. 21. Plenty of pomp and circumstance will still accompany this year’s 49ers-Rams game even if it’s not good enough for prime time. This is the 49ers’ designated game to wear their throwback, all-white uniforms. In conjunction with it being their alumni game, they planned to unveil a statue of Joe Montana and the late Dwight Clark performing “The Catch.” Also, there is a throwback T-shirt giveaway. — Running back Matthew Dayes, formerly of the Cleveland Browns, was added to the practice squad as a result of starter Matt Breida (left ankle) being doubtful this week. Guard Najee Toran and defensive back Tyvis Powell also joined the practice squad after recently being released from the 53-man roster. Defensive back Dexter McCoil and wide receiver Frank Stephens were waived from the practice squad. Dayes (5-foot-9, 205 pounds) got cut by the Browns on Sept. 2, having played all 16 games last season as a rookie reserve.<doc-sep>Two weeks after losing Jimmy Garoppolo, the 49ers are being pushed out of prime time partly due to the allure of the NFL’s next big thing at quarterback: Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes. The NFL has moved the 1-4 49ers out of their Sunday night slot for their home game against the Rams on Oct. 21 in favor of the Chiefs’ home game against the Bengals (4-1). The Chiefs and Rams are the NFL’s only unbeaten teams. The 49ers will now play the Rams at 1:25 p.m. at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers will unveil statues of Dwight Clark and Joe Montana depicting "The Catch" outside the stadium the same day and will wear their 1994 throwback uniforms against the Rams. The 49ers were moved out of prime time just over a week after ESPN reported "some within the league" were hoping they would trade for the reigning Super Bowl MVP, Eagles backup quarterback Nick Foles, instead of sticking with C.J. Beathard to replace Garoppolo. There was reportedly concern within the league because the 49ers were originally scheduled to play five prime-time games by Dec. 2. Last week, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about the concern about the Garoppolo-less 49ers adversely affecting television ratings. "It’s very comical," Shanahan said. "I wish we could worry about that stuff and help people out. That’s definitely the last of our worries. If you guys judge us on ratings and they gave us a trophy at the end of the year — a Super Bowl trophy for ratings — then I would maybe think that way." David Eulitt / Getty Images The 49ers will play their first prime-time game on Monday night at Green Bay. The only remaining prime-time game they have that could be moved is their Dec. 2 meeting at Seattle. Here’s the rest of the 49ers’ prime-time schedule: Monday, Oct. 15: at Green Bay, 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1: vs. Raiders, 5:20 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12: vs. Giants, 5:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2: at Seattle, 5:20 p.m. Twitter: @Eric_Branch<doc-sep>
SANTA CLARA, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams rushes for a touchdown in the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) The San Francisco 49ers will no longer be playing their Week 7 bout with the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football, as the game has been flexed out of prime time. Well, cross one of the San Francisco 49ers‘ 2018 prime-time games off the list now. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Niners are being bumped out of their Week 7 Sunday Night Football showdown with the Los Angeles Rams — the game instead being moved to 4:25 p.m. ET from Levi’s Stadium. Instead, the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs’ matchup will wind up getting the prime-time nod: Week 7, Oct. 21, the 4-1 Bengals and 5-0 Chiefs are being flexed to Sunday night, per source. Rams-49ers, which was scheduled for that night, will be moved to 4:25 pm. So it’ll be two straight Sunday night games for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Bengals lone SNF appearance. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 9, 2018 The 49ers confirmed the switch shortly thereafter. It’s not hard to understand why. Losing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3 all but derailed the team’s chances to contend for a playoff berth this season. Combine that with the 1-4 start head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad has endured to start the year, combined with the turnover-prone 28-18 loss to the previously winless Arizona Cardinals in Week 5, it’s not hard to see why the NFL would want to feature what likely becomes a more entertaining game for the national audience. It’s probably better for San Francisco fans too, to be honest. The 5-0 Rams, who remain arguably the hottest team in football right now, should have little trouble dispelling the Niners in Week 7. Especially considering the team is poised to be without one of its best remaining offensive weapons, running back Matt Breida (ankle), for the foreseeable future. The NFL equivalent of the mercy rule, one might assume. At least the 49ers won’t have to be worried about being embarrassed on national television. San Francisco still has its Week 6 prime-time showdown on the road against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. And there are three more prime-time games still on the calendar: Week 9, Nov. 1 vs. Oakland Raiders — Thursday Night Football Week 10, Nov. 12 vs. New York Giants — Monday Night Football Week 13, Dec. 2 @ Seattle Seahawks — Sunday Night Football Week 9’s bout versus the Raiders assuredly stays put, seeing each team plays a Thursday night game on the calendar. And we probably won’t see any shifts for the Monday Night Football contest either. The only other flex possibility is in Week 13, when the Niners travel to take on the Seattle Seahawks. Seeing that’s cornerback Richard Sherman‘s return to his former team, one might doubt the networks want to remove that from a prime-time slot. But we’ll see.