Rams’ win subject purpose battle over 49ers, get 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 line with ESPN Analytics. Those figures went up considerably after the victory: The Rams’ playoff probabilities now sit at 52% and profitable the division at 49% getting 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 below head coach Sean McVay, together with a visit to Super Bowl LIII and a victory in Super Bowl LVI.

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

But if the Rams are to make a playoff run, it would require some consistency from their offense, an space that has been a wrestle.

Just 4 days after scoring a season-high 44 factors towards the Buffalo Bills — a group that had already clinched its division — Los Angeles struggled to maneuver the ball on a wet night time.

In the primary 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 lively 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 recreation with no touchdowns on both facet.

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 line with ESPN Research. 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: Slow begin. Against the 49ers, the Rams failed to attain within the first quarter for the ninth time this season. According to ESPN Research, that’s tied with the Bears for second within the NFL. In the extraordinarily moist circumstances, they failed to search out methods to constantly set up the run or get the ball to broad receivers in area, placing extra stress on the protection. — Sarah Barshop

Next recreation: at Jets (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 22)

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

On paper, Thursday night time arrange completely for the Niners to put in writing 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 harm figured to supply a further spark for a group 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 group that has gained its share of old style NFC West slugfests, Thursday’s defeat hammered house the purpose that the Niners are now not kings of the division.

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

Sure, there are distant mathematical strategies for the Niners to nonetheless sneak in, however at 6-8 general and 1-4 within the division, they’d must win out. Considering they have not gained greater than two video games in a row this season, it is tough to think about that is even attainable.

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

Promising development: In a good, low-scoring recreation equivalent to Thursday’s, particular groups figured to play a outstanding function within the end result. Though 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 towards the Rams.

Kicker Jake Moody made his subject purpose 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 typically had no back-breaking errors within the third section. That’s sufficient to qualify.

QB breakdown: Brock Purdy was principally stable regardless of the rain doing him no favors, however the determination to throw deep that became an interception was the largest mistake of the sport.

Although 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 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 subject objectives, that was subject purpose vary.

But quarterback Purdy overpassed the scenario and tried to power a deep ball to wideout Jennings deep down the fitting sideline. Rams cornerback Darious Williams picked it off in the long run zone for a touchback to kill the drive. — Nick Wagoner

Next recreation: at Dolphins (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 22)