The Los Angeles Rams are trying to sweep the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football
The Los Angeles Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers in a crucial matchup on Thursday Night Football, and if anyone is going to bring L.A. back down to earth after their remarkable win over the Buffalo Bills, it’s going to be Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan has the edge over Sean McVay in their head-to-head matchups with a 10-5 record. The 49ers head coach also ended McVay’s streak of never losing when leading at halftime.
L.A. deserves some optimism as they played their best opening half of football on Sunday, and Sean McVay’s offense played its best game of the year. The Rams are also 7-2 with McVay on Thursday games.
mcvay’s rams are 7-2 on thursday nights, including 1-0 against the 49ers, and this little thursday night gem at the coliseum: pic.twitter.com/C6oB0hz2S3
— roberto clemente (@rclemente2121) December 11, 2024
However, the issue with this team isn’t that they can’t play great, it’s that they haven’t been consistent.
L.A. started their season 0-2, upset the 49ers in Week 3 to reach 1-2, but then lost to the Chicago Bears the next week. The Rams also lost to an up and down Miami Dolphins team on Monday Night Football, and L.A. was absolutely blown-out by the Arizona Cardinals earlier in the year.
After this latest win are the Rams ready to play consistent, complementary football? I don’t think we know yet, but that does appear to be the expectation among many: That the L.A. Rams have now arrived.
49ers
The 49ers are coming off a dominant win over the Bears as San Francisco is catching its stride just in time for the postseason. With a healthy Brock Purdy, and a surging George Kittle, they can keep Chris Shula’s unit busy.
NFL Network analysts are siding with the 49ers over the Rams 6-4 pic.twitter.com/Xjm7oMghZA
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) December 11, 2024
If L.A. wants to show that they are dangerous then they must win this game, but due to inconsistent play, a young defense that may have been exposed against the Bills, and the 49ers needing a win to stay alive, I cannot pick the Rams on Thursday.
Final score: 49ers 24, Rams 20
If the Rams prove me wrong and find a way to win, they’ll sweep the 49ers and effectively end their season. Last week, L.A. rose above a .500 record for the first time all year. Can they take another step forward this week?
The Rams to this point have featured McVay’s squad taking a step or two back, improving to take a step or two forward, only to again take a step back. I don’t think they buck that trend on Thursday. Tune in to find out if they do.
️MUST SEE TV! pic.twitter.com/T8QsHsxDNq
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 11, 2024