The Rams defense should have earned a quick stop to open the second half, but a pass interference penalty gave San Francisco a third-down conversion.

Here is what was especially galling about this play: Rams defensive end James Hall hit the arm the 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill on that play, causing the ball to flutter fall short of the target.

Three plays later, Hall managed to sack Hill and stop the drive. Again all odds, the Rams weren’t penalized on that play.

Can John Greco play tackle? I don’t think so, but he will try. Hapless Alex Barron got benched for the second half and top draft pick Jason Smith is, of course, also out.

Greco got downfield too soon and negated a completion to Steven Jackson, one that would have moved the chains. Naturally, the Rams played it safe on third-and-13 and punted the ball back to the 49ers.

At some point, shouldn’t the Rams try to actually win this game by taking the ball downfield?

The defense keeps battling. The latest defender to make a notable play: Fill-in defensive tackle Leger Douzable, who rocked Hill with a nice inside rush.

But the 49ers kept chipping away, completing short passes and getting good yardage after catches. Then came their first offensive TD of the game, with a post pass to Vernon Davis.

Ah, a post pass. When was the last time the Rams completed one of those?

With a 14-0 lead, the 49ers have to feel good. The Rams offense has amassed 116 total offensive yards to this point. That is just sad, especially for a team that also lost 61 yards to penalties.

Trying to make something happen, Boller scrambled right, then tried to throw the ball back across the field.

Oh, oh! Linebacker Patrick Willis was just waiting for that. He picked off the ball and returned it for a touchdown.

Now the 49ers lead 21-0. Garbage time is almost upon us.

On a Kenneth Darby kickoff return that only reached the 15-yard line, tight end Billy Bajema committed an illegal block. That moved the Rams back to their 7.

An actual completion to Donnie Avery got the Rams out of that hole, but, again, this offense couldn’t string together good plays.

Defending the Rams isn’t hard right now, since they can only run and they absolutely, positively cannot pass the ball downfield. How would you like to be Steven Jackson today.

What a disaster. After three quarters, the Rams have seven first downs (one by penalty) and seven punts.

How is it possible to be this bad.