The NFC playoffs are unofficially starting four weeks early, at least in the NFC West. That’s where the Rams face off with the 49ers in a crucial division battle at Levi’s Stadium. With apologies to Yogi Berra, it’s getting late early in the division.
From their couches watching will be the Seahawks. Just five weeks ago, they sat in last place. Now, Seattle (8-5) is in first. Seven weeks ago, the Rams occupied that division cellar. Now, Los Angeles (7-6) is poised to overtake Seattle – but not without a win on Thursday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) at San Francisco (6-7). And on a short week, the 49ers are hoping the Rams left too much of their “emotional fuel” at SoFi Stadium in Sunday’s 44-42 victory over the Bills.
Sean McVay has been in this situation before. In 2019, his high-octane Rams put up 40 points in a 55-40 track-meet loss at home to Tampa Bay. Four days later in Seattle, the Rams surrendered a late Russell Wilson touchdown pass in a 30-29 loss. The head coach is 3-4 at Levi’s Stadium.
“It’s a great challenge,” McVay said Tuesday. “They know us, we know them. There are some different things and we’ll dive into the prep pretty deeply after we finish up. Some of the coaches have done a good job of getting ahead on some things. It’s a little bit more challenging just in terms of my rhythm and routine. I tell you what: You like the Thursday games after you get through it; it’s a good grind all the way up to it. On a positive, guys established some good momentum, things we can certainly learn from.”
San Francisco established some good momentum, too. And unlike the Rams last week, the 49ers also played well on defense. San Francisco outgained the Bears 319-4 in the first half and led 24-0 at intermission. Brock Purdy passed with 325 yards and two touchdowns – both to Jauan Jennings – and George Kittle had six catches for 151 yards. And, Yetur Gross-Matos picked up the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his three-sack effort. On both sides of the ball, it was the 49ers’ best effort this season.
And while the 49ers again will be without all-world left tackle Trent Williams (ankle), they could see two important pieces return to their defensive lineup. Edge-rusher Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles) are both questionable but reportedly trending toward playing. Bosa has missed the past three-plus games while Greenlaw hasn’t played since San Francisco’s overtime loss in the Super Bowl.
What’s more, running back Isaac Guerendo (foot) also is reportedly planning to play, which would provide a needed boost for a snakebitten San Francisco backfield without Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, both on injured reserve.
According to Next Gen Stats, a win for Los Angeles would be gigantic. Their chances to make the playoffs would improve from 33 percent to 50 percent with a victory, but fall to 23 percent with a loss. San Francisco, meanwhile, would face a virtually unrecoverable road should the 49ers lose.
“The Niners are all but eliminated if they lose the game,” said Danny Parkins on FS1’s Breakfast Ball Thursday morning. “This is a division game on national television where neither team is in the postseason. Both teams just had arguably their best games of the season last week … I can’t imagine either team – letdown spot, trap game, overlooking it – both of these teams need this game desperately.”
For more information on the Rams and 49ers, visit the L.A. Rams and San Francisco team pages at ProFootballPost.com.
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