Rams’ win over 49ers propels them nearer to high of NFC West

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams’ 12-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night time propelled them nearer to the highest of the NFC West and a playoff spot.

The Rams entered the sport with a 35% likelihood to make the playoffs and a 32% likelihood to win the division, in accordance with ESPN Analytics. These figures went up considerably after the victory: The Rams’ playoff probabilities now sit at 52% and profitable the division at 49% coming into the weekend.

And maybe most significantly, the Rams proceed to regulate their future with three video games left. The Rams finish their season on the New York Jets and residential to the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals.

The Rams have made the playoffs in 5 of the earlier seven seasons beneath head coach Sean McVay, together with a visit to Tremendous Bowl LIII and a victory in Tremendous Bowl LVI.

At 8-6, the Rams now sit half a sport again of the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks.

But when the Rams are to make a playoff run, it can require some consistency from their offense, an space that has been a battle.

Simply 4 days after scoring a season-high 44 factors in opposition to the Buffalo Payments — a staff that had already clinched its division — Los Angeles struggled to maneuver the ball on a wet night time.

Within the first half, the Rams had 89 yards of offense, which is a season low. They picked it up within the second half, ending with 302 yards within the victory.

QB breakdown: Quarterback Matthew Stafford entered Thursday having 4 straight video games with a number of passing touchdowns and no interceptions, which is tied for the longest energetic streak within the NFL and is tied for the longest streak of his profession. He didn’t proceed that streak Thursday, finishing 16 of 27 passes for 160 yards in a sport with no touchdowns on both aspect.

Eye-popping stat: For the primary time since McVay was employed in 2017, the Rams did not get a primary down on their first 4 offensive drives, in accordance with ESPN Analysis. Every week after scoring a season-high 44 factors, Los Angeles completed the sport with solely 14 first downs.

Describe the sport in two phrases: Gradual begin. In opposition to the 49ers, the Rams failed to attain within the first quarter for the ninth time this season. In response to ESPN Analysis, that’s tied with the Bears for second within the NFL. Within the extraordinarily moist circumstances, they failed to search out methods to constantly set up the run or get the ball to large receivers in area, placing extra stress on the protection. — Sarah Barshop

Subsequent sport: at Jets (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 22)

For the higher a part of the previous 5 years, at any time when the 49ers wanted a galvanizing win to push them ahead to a postseason look, they’ve usually earned them in opposition to the Rams.

On paper, Thursday night time arrange completely for the Niners to jot down one other profitable chapter of their rivalry with Los Angeles and breathe life into their fledgling playoff hopes. The return of linebacker Dre Greenlaw and defensive finish Nick Bosa from damage figured to supply a further spark for a staff that has spent the previous two weeks talking of the desperation it must make a postseason push.

As has been the story of the season in San Francisco, none of that was sufficient. For a staff that has received its share of old style NFC West slugfests, Thursday’s defeat hammered residence the purpose that the Niners are not kings of the division.

Though it was solely three factors, the Niners blew a fourth-quarter lead of three or extra factors in opposition to an NFC West opponent for the fourth time this season. It makes them the primary staff to try this for the reason that 2000 New England Patriots and successfully kills San Francisco’s hope of a 3rd straight division crown and a playoff berth.

Certain, there are distant mathematical strategies for the Niners to nonetheless sneak in, however at 6-8 total and 1-4 within the division, they’d need to win out. Contemplating they have not received greater than two video games in a row this season, it is tough to think about that is even doable.

The following 4 weeks ought to solely reveal extra about the place the Niners are headed in 2025.

Promising development: In a decent, low-scoring sport akin to Thursday’s, particular groups figured to play a outstanding function within the consequence. Although the Niners entered ranked thirty second within the league in anticipated factors added by way of particular groups, there have been no fingers to be pointed at that unit in opposition to the Rams.

Kicker Jake Moody made his discipline objective makes an attempt, punter Pat O’Donnell was stable, and punt returner Jacob Cowing averaged 10.2 yards per return. It wasn’t an ideal efficiency (they’d a pair of 5-yard penalties on punts) however the Niners usually had no back-breaking errors within the third section. That is sufficient to qualify.

QB breakdown: Brock Purdy was largely stable regardless of the rain doing him no favors, however the resolution to throw deep that changed into an interception was the largest mistake of the sport.

Though Purdy has struggled in poor climate circumstances in different video games, his numbers Thursday ought to have been higher than they had been. Receivers Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel Sr. mixed for a number of drops, together with a possible landing to Samuel on a third-quarter slant over the center. Purdy completed 14-of-31 for 142 yards with an interception.

Pivotal play: With a little bit greater than 5 minutes to go, the Niners confronted second-and-10 on the Rams’ 33. With Moody already changing a pair of lengthy discipline targets, that was discipline objective vary.

However quarterback Purdy overlooked the state of affairs and tried to power a deep ball to wideout Jennings deep down the appropriate sideline. Rams cornerback Darious Williams picked it off ultimately zone for a touchback to kill the drive. — Nick Wagoner

Subsequent sport: at Dolphins (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 22)