by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Jan 06, 2022
Game time: 4:25 p.m. ET
Venue: SoFI Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
Where to watch: FOX
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Rams -4.5; O/U 44.5
BetMGM: Rams -4.5; O/U 44.5
Caesars: Rams -4.5; O/U 44.5
Season record
49ers: 9-7 (3rd place, NFC West)
Rams: 12-4 (1st place, NFC West, clinched playoff spot)
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49ers - Rams preview and analysis
Last week
49ers: won 23-7 vs. Texans
Rams: won 20-19 at Ravens
The NFC West will be at the epicenter of the NFC Playoff picture this weekend in the afternoon window.
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers holds most of the merit, while the Arizona Cardinals are a few hundred miles away hoping for a last-minute clinch of the division title.
The Rams and 49ers will meet with it very simple. If the Rams win, they clinch the NFC West. The Rams can also win the division if the Cardinals lose to the Seattle Seahawks, but that's not all. The 49ers can clinch a playoff spot with a win, or a loss by the New Orleans Saints to the Atlanta Falcons.
All games are in the 4:30 window. Get hyped, friends.
The sky seemed to be falling for the Rams back in November after losing three straight, but five straight wins and a stumbling performance from the Cardinals has put the Rams back at the top of the division with a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a victory by way of tiebreaker.
The Rams are coming off a thrilling 20-19 win over the Baltimore Ravens that was capped thanks to a last-second touchdown from Matthew Stafford to Odell Beckham Jr. Stafford threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns (nevermind the two interceptions this time of year).
The Stafford renaissance has been one worth admiring. He's only one of three quarterbacks this season to have at least seven games of 300 yards, and his play is absolutely one of the reasons why he's going to play in his third career playoff game ... and has a realistic chance for the former No. 1 pick out of Georgia to win his first playoff game.
"I thought he was at his best when his best was required," Rams coach Sean McVay said of Stafford. "He's a mentally tough guy and that's what you want from your quarterback.
The chemistry Stafford and Cooper Kupp have developed, especially, has been unreal. Kupp had 95 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions, giving him 171 yards from a 2,000-yard campaign. His 138 receptions and 15 touchdowns are far and away tops in the league. Whether he's doing this in 16 games or 17 games, it's unreal to see what Kupp has done.
But the last time the 49ers faced the Rams, it was a dominant performance from San Francisco, winning 31-10 in Santa Clara on Nov. 15. It was the first game for Von Miller and Beckham members of the Rams, which came in the midst of that three-game losing streak.
San Francisco has put itself in this great position by winning three of the last four, including a 23-7 win over the Houston Texans in their home fianle. Playing in place of the injured Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb), rookie quarterback Trey Lance threw for a career-high 249 yards and two touchdowns in the win; the No. 3 overall pick also tacked on 31 rushing yards in the win.
Rookie running back Elijah Mitchell ran for 119 yards and caught a touchdown, while Deebo Samuel continued his career season with 63 receiving yards and a touchdown. Samuel is on a career-high 1,630 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns.
"It's pretty simple for us," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. "I think our playoffs, I kind of thought going into this game that they started today because I had a feeling that was going to go like that and it did. I'm just glad we took care of business. So we got our second playoff game next week."
Garoppolo has practiced this week, but was limited in his return. The quarterback situation is in flux despite the line being below five. That's because of San Francisco's defense and how it stifled the Rams back in that prior meeting. The 49ers are 6-2 in their last eight and it all started by holding the Rams to just 278 total yards in that game.
The NFC West will be at the epicenter of the NFC Playoff picture this weekend in the afternoon window.
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers holds most of the merit, while the Arizona Cardinals are a few hundred miles away hoping for a last-minute clinch of the division title.
The Rams and 49ers will meet with it very simple. If the Rams win, they clinch the NFC West. The Rams can also win the division if the Cardinals lose to the Seattle Seahawks, but that's not all. The 49ers can clinch a playoff spot with a win, or a loss by the New Orleans Saints to the Atlanta Falcons.
All games are in the 4:30 window. Get hyped, friends.
The sky seemed to be falling for the Rams back in November after losing three straight, but five straight wins and a stumbling performance from the Cardinals has put the Rams back at the top of the division with a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC with a victory by way of tiebreaker.
The Rams are coming off a thrilling 20-19 win over the Baltimore Ravens that was capped thanks to a last-second touchdown from Matthew Stafford to Odell Beckham Jr. Stafford threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns (nevermind the two interceptions this time of year).
The Stafford renaissance has been one worth admiring. He's only one of three quarterbacks this season to have at least seven games of 300 yards, and his play is absolutely one of the reasons why he's going to play in his third career playoff game ... and has a realistic chance for the former No. 1 pick out of Georgia to win his first playoff game.
"I thought he was at his best when his best was required," Rams coach Sean McVay said of Stafford. "He's a mentally tough guy and that's what you want from your quarterback.
The chemistry Stafford and Cooper Kupp have developed, especially, has been unreal. Kupp had 95 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions, giving him 171 yards from a 2,000-yard campaign. His 138 receptions and 15 touchdowns are far and away tops in the league. Whether he's doing this in 16 games or 17 games, it's unreal to see what Kupp has done.
But the last time the 49ers faced the Rams, it was a dominant performance from San Francisco, winning 31-10 in Santa Clara on Nov. 15. It was the first game for Von Miller and Beckham members of the Rams, which came in the midst of that three-game losing streak.
San Francisco has put itself in this great position by winning three of the last four, including a 23-7 win over the Houston Texans in their home fianle. Playing in place of the injured Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb), rookie quarterback Trey Lance threw for a career-high 249 yards and two touchdowns in the win; the No. 3 overall pick also tacked on 31 rushing yards in the win.
Rookie running back Elijah Mitchell ran for 119 yards and caught a touchdown, while Deebo Samuel continued his career season with 63 receiving yards and a touchdown. Samuel is on a career-high 1,630 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns.
"It's pretty simple for us," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. "I think our playoffs, I kind of thought going into this game that they started today because I had a feeling that was going to go like that and it did. I'm just glad we took care of business. So we got our second playoff game next week."
Garoppolo has practiced this week, but was limited in his return. The quarterback situation is in flux despite the line being below five. That's because of San Francisco's defense and how it stifled the Rams back in that prior meeting. The 49ers are 6-2 in their last eight and it all started by holding the Rams to just 278 total yards in that game.
Prediction
We're about to find out just how big of a home-field advantage SoFI Stadium can be. It's about to host a playoff game in a couple weeks, but Rams fans need to show up for this one. It's a crucial game with a lot on the line. When all is said and done, I think Stafford outduels whichever quarterback is under center for the 49ers and gets the Rams to the No. 2 spot. Rams by 8
Betting trends
The under is 4-0 in the 49ers' last four games as a road dog.
The over is 5-1 in the Rams' last six after gaining 350 yards or more in their last game.
The underdog has won the last five in the series ATS.
The 49ers are 4-1 ATS in the last five matchups.
Statistical leaders
49ers:
Passing: Jimmy Garoppolo -- 3,494 yards, 19 TD, 10 INT
Rushing: Elijah Mitchell -- 878 yards, 5 TD
Receiving: Deebo Samuel -- 1,310 yards, 6 TD
Defense: Nick Bosa -- 15 sacks
Rams:
Passing: Matthew Stafford -- 4,648 yards, 38 TD, 15 INT
Rushing: Sony Michel -- 802 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Cooper Kupp -- 1,829 yards, 15 TD (138 receptions)
Defense: Aaron Donald -- 12.5 sacks
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
