The San Francisco 49ers came out on top last weekend against the Washington Commander and got help from the Philadelphia Eagles in a loss against the Arizona Cardinals.
Now their focus in Week 18 has shifted to the Los Angeles Rams, who have also clinched a playoff spot and are either No. 6 or No. 7 in the NFC depending on the outcome of Sunday’s game.
The 49ers are resting quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey, while Arik Armstead (foot, knee), Ji’Ayir Brown (knee), Ross Dwelly (ankle), Tashaun Gipson (quad), Ambry Thomas (hand), and Jauan Jennings (concussion) has been ruled out.
Wing Kyle Juszczyk (illness), guard John Feliciano (back) and wing Danny Gray (shoulder) are questionable.
As a result, the 49ers activated wideout Ray-Ray McCloud from the injured reserve list, while Tayler Hawkins and Jeremy McNichols were promoted from the practice squad.
Dwelly was placed on injured reserve to replace McCloud, ending his season. 4,444 4,444 For the game, the 49ers are considered 4.5-point favorites with a 41-point over/under, according to DraftKings sportsbooks.
Here’s what you need to know about the 49ers’ opponent on Sunday.
Opponent Preview
The Los Angeles Rams have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL in the second half of the season, winning six of their last seven games to help clinch a playoff spot last weekend.
The Rams, now locked in the playoffs, are resting several key players such as quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Kyren Williams, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, defensive end Aaron Donald and linebacker Ernest Jones.
Also out with injuries are forward Joe Noteboom (foot) and tight end Tyler Higbee (shoulder).
That means backup Carson Wentz will win the start against Sam Darnold, but he will beat almost every Los Angeles defense except for wideout Puka Nacua, who is 29 yards short of the all-time rookie receiving record.
Defensively, the Rams seem to play their entire starting defense outside of Aaron Donald and Ernest Jones and continue to play to win as they were able to clinch the 6th seed in the NFC with a win.
If the Rams lose, they would need a Chicago Bears win over the Green Bay Packers to stay in sixth.
Game Keys
Health: Winning games is always important, but the first goal in this match is to be as healthy as possible.
After all, with nothing to play for, the 49ers can’t afford to lose key players to injury.
San Francisco already has Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey sitting, but they can’t put others on the inactives because players are already shut down by injury.
I don’t expect the starters to play a full game, but it will be interesting to see how the 49ers split the gaps between their starters and backups on Sunday.
The Rams plan to use a similar strategy as they also cut several players before the contest.
We can look at the Los Angeles Chargers last season, who played all of their starters in a meaningless Week 18 game and lost wideout Mike Williams to a back injury for the playoffs.
Health is crucial on both sides of the game, but especially for the 49ers, who are preparing for a possible Super Bowl appearance as the #1 seed in the NFC.
Matchups: Matchups are always an important part of the game, but with Sam Darnold under center for the 49ers, it could be even more important this Sunday.
A rookie quarterback with experience, Darnold has struggled with turnovers throughout his career, throwing 56 interceptions and fumbling 36 times in 65 games.
He earns his first start of the season on Sunday and tries to clean up an interception in his post-Christmas comeback attempt against the Baltimore Ravens.
Meanwhile, the Rams start Carson Wentz, who has 66 interceptions and 72 touchdowns in 94 career games.
Wentz was recently signed by the Rams and played once in Los Angeles, playing in the team’s 37-14 win over the Cardinals.
Both quarterbacks have been erratic throughout their careers, so they could be preparing for a defensive meal on Sunday.
Running Game: The 49ers made the running game work last week, even without Christian McCaffrey, as Elijah Mitchell rushed for 80 yards and a 17-yard touchdown against the Commanders.
Now they face a Rams defense that ranks 12th in the NFL allowing 105.7 yards per game, far better than the Commander’s against the run.
Again, it’s unclear how much the Rams’ defensive linemen will play against San Francisco, but the 49ers will likely use the tandem of Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason to get the job done on Sunday.
Both players have had their moments this season, and the latter could extend a game with McCaffrey in Week 18.
On the other hand, the Rams had one of the best rushes so far, but no. plays point guard Kyren Williams, leaving behind Ronnie Rivers and Royce Freeman at the top spot.
With two rotating backs, the running game could be very important in deciding this contest, especially considering how well both teams defend the run.
