NFL Bye week worked wonders for 49ers

San Francisco coach Steve Mariucci admitted that his players will have to guard against being overconfident against the Rams.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
Since the San Francisco 49ers' last game ended 10 days ago, Coach Steve Mariucci has seen some good (first place), bad (another Terrell Owens outburst) and ugly (several cases of the flu and the St. Louis Rams' 0-4 start).
The 49ers (2-1) took over first-place of the NFC West Division with their 20-10 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sept. 22.
The Niners won even though an estimated 17 players, including quarterback Jeff Garcia, were battling the flu.
As soon as the game ended, Owens complained because the coaching staff wisely ran out the clock in the final minute of play rather than risk a turnover trying to run up the score.
Mariucci dismissed the outburst, citing Owens' competitive nature.
Lead grows
Thirty-six hours later, the 49ers saw their game-and-a-half lead over the Rams grow to two when St. Louis lost to the Buccaneers.
Sunday, the lead over the defending NFC champions grew again when the Rams lost to the Cowboys.
Icing the cake for the 49ers' productive open week is the news that starting quarterback Kurt Warner will miss up to eight weeks with a broken finger on his throwing hand.
Mariucci said that his players are feeling well again after spending most of last weekend away from the team's headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif.
"With so many sick, we needed to get away from each other," Mariucci said. "I think we're past the bug -- we practiced well Monday. And I didn't see anyone on the sidelines throwing up."
Mariucci admitted his players on Sunday will have to guard against being overconfident against the Rams, especially since San Francisco has lost the last six games to St. Louis.
Keeping guard up
"We've got to approach this game the same way. In the NFL, you throw out all the records. Look what happened to Denver when they went into Baltimore."
Monday, the underdog Ravens, who have struggled to score, upset the Broncos, 34-23.
Mariucci has little sympathy for the Rams' injury woes.
"We have injuries of our own to contend with," said Mariucci, citing left guard Dave Fiore's season-ending knee injury.
Eric Heitmann, the 49ers' seventh-round draft pick from Stanford or Matt Willig, who has been battling knee and hip injuries, will take over for Fiore.
"Heitmann got a lot of work in preseason when Ron Stone, our other guard, was hurting," Mariucci said. "Heitmann took a lot of practice snaps and game snaps. He's come along quickly."
Injuries are piling up for the Niners on defense. Mariucci said linebacker Jamie Winborn will be out another month with a knee problem.
Another starting linebacker, Julian Peterson, is questionable. Safety Ronnie Heard has a high ankle sprain and is listed as doubtful.
Faulk watch
Despite Warner's absence, Mariucci says the Niners will prepare the same as they would if the All-Pro quarterback were playing. "We don't anticipate them changing their offense," he said, which means running back Marshall Faulk, the player many consider to be the best in the NFL, is the 49ers' top priority.
"He's a great, great player," Mariucci said of Faulk. "He's a threat as a running back and he's certainly a threat as a receiver -- he caught 14 passes against Denver [in Week 1].