Goodbye for now
That’s it for our coverage of the NFC Championship. We’ll have plenty of Super Bowl coverage over the next two weeks, but for now, that’s a wrap! Wherever you are, thanks for following along with us!
Updated
Here’s our NFC Championship game report:
Make the line
I will put the Vegas line as Bengals -1.5.
What’s the early line? Let’s look....
Wow - Vegas has the Rams -3.5! I am looking forward to putting a few donuts on Cincy. I don’t usually gamble, but it looks like I do now!
Even more reason to look forward to Super Bowl 56.
Who will win the Super Bowl?
I can tell you with a high degree of confidence that Joe Burrow and the Bengals will wipe SoFi’s turf with the Rams. That is especially so after seeing what Cincy did today, and throughout these playoffs. Knocking off the Chiefs, on the road, in a comeback victory will prove to be just the appetizer for the main meal, coming in two weeks time. that is a team of destiny, playing at a high level and rising. So Rams fans should soak it up today, because the dream ends in a fortnight.
The Rams have it!
Confetti flies at SoFi as Terry Bradshaw presents the George S Halas trophy to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who moved the team from St Louis, built himself a new stadium, a new neighborhood and now has another Super Bowl appearance. I’d say it’s going reasonably well for the billionaire, wouldn’t you?
Sean McVay says he is so grateful for the players, and he should be, because he coached poorly.
A happy Matthew Stafford, for whom the move from Detroit paid off handsomely, delivers a series of light sports cliches to the remaining crowd befor FOX TV in the US takes us to a commercial break.
Postgame
So Matthew Stafford is heading to the Super Bowl, with minimal help from his coach Sean McVay, whose team won in spite of him, and a lot of help from Jaquiski Tartt, the Niners safety who had a chance to possibly seal this game with an interception that he let slip through his fingers.
The Rams will play in their second Super Bowl in four seasons, and for the second consecutive year, the a team will play in their home stadium. That after 54 years of it not happening.
Oh, and then there’s this:
Congratulations on the San Francisco 49ers organization for punting away a season where they had a legit shot at winning a Super Bowl because they screwed up their QB situation as badly as possible. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) January 31, 2022
Updated
49ers 17-20 Rams, Final
The Howard pick seals a wild, and at one point unlikely win for the Rams! They will play at home v the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI (56)!
INTERCEPTION! 49ers 17-20 Rams, 1:09 4th quarter
Jennings has a catch for a loss - it’s 3rd & 13.
Now Jimmy G is back to pass - Donald comes with pressure, Goroppolo tosses it away, Hasty gets a hand on it and Howard makes the pick!
That should do it for LA! What a play!
Updated
49ers 17-20 Rams, 1:42 4th quarter
Here we go!
G throws and it’s batted down by Gaines, who has had a really strong game today.
It’s 2nd & 10.
FIELD GOAL! 49ers 17-20 Rams, 1:46 4th quarter
So SF does what they need to do: hold LA to a field goal and give themselves some time. It cost them two timeouts, but that’s what they’re there for.
49ers 17-17 Rams, 1:49 4th quarter
Stafford finds Kupp for eight yards and the Niners call timeout. Here comes Gay for a 29-yard attempt.
49ers 17-17 Rams, 1:55 4th quarter
Bosa sacks Stafford and Ebukam was so close to knocking the ball free from Stafford. Timeut SF, ball on the 20 and it’s 3rd & 18.
49ers 17-17 Rams, 2:00 4th quarter
We just flew down to the two-minute warning. And despite some awful coaching by McVay, the Rams are in control right now, just 13 yards from a touchdown lead.
It’s 2nd & 11. The Niners need to try and hold LA to a field goal while protecting some of that clock. Tricky.
49ers 17-17 Rams, 2:32 4th quarter
Stafford, upright in the pocket, hanging in and he finds Kupp! He catches and he runs, all the way down to the Niners 12! That’s a 25-yard gain over the middle by Kupp.
49ers 17-17 Rams, 3:40 4th quarter
Stafford hits Beckham on a hook route for seven. It’s 3rd & 3...
49ers 17-17 Rams, 4:40 4th quarter
Now it’s LA’s turn to try and take control. They begin with a three yard run by Akers, and follow with a six-yard catch by Jefferson on the sideline.
On 3rd & short, it’s Blanton, again! This time it’s a key six-yard grab for a first down!
The Rams are at thee Niners 42, and the clock is ticking.
49ers 17-17 Rams, 6:26 4th quarter
So does Just Enough Jimmy have just enough to get the Niners to the Super Bowl?
We’ll soon find out.
Here he’s hit as he throws, incomplete, over the middle at Kittle.
Now there’s a delay of game penalty on San Francisco, thanks to the Rams cheering section, who are showing up right now.
Its’s 2nd & 15, G is running around to his right and throwing wildly to his right and it’s nearly picked off!
So a long 3rd & 15 coming up. G has Aiyuk, short, and he drops it!
Good defense by LA on this possession and they will get the ball back. Punt and fair catch: the Rams will start at their 39.
FIELD GOAL! 49ers 17-17 Rams, 6:49 4th quarter
Pass to Michel in the backfield and he’s wrapped up by Warner! What a terrible call by McVay! More bad from McVay! What is going on?
Here’s Gay - it’s a 40-yard attempt, and it’s good!
49ers 17-14 Rams, 7:50 4th quarter
On 2nd & 10, Stafford finds Beckham on the far sideline - gain of seven, setting up a big 3rd & 3.
49ers 17-14 Rams, 8:19 4th quarter
Here’s Kupp - he’s down to the 25 after a 16-yard gain! Somehow, here come the Rams!
49ers 17-14 Rams, 8:50 4th quarter
Stafford throws a deep ball right into the hands of safety Jaquiski Tartt - but he somehow drops it! That is crazy! That could have been the game on a terrible throw by Stafford.
Now Stafford hits Beckham, and then Ward hits Beckham, illegally! That’s a 30-yard catch and a 15-yard penalty!
So we go from a sure interception to a 45-yard pickup by LA, thrown a life vest by SF here in the fourth.
49ers 17-14 Rams, 9:55 4th quarter
The ruling on the field stands, and McVay loses his final timeout and they are out of challenges. Man that is absolutely terrible coaching by McVay.
And now SF are going to go for it! Or at least their offense is on the field!
Jimmy G is under center at the Rams 45, and there he will stay. It’s a delay of game, and now the punting unit will come on. Good idea from SF.
Kupp calls for a fair catch at the 15.
49ers 17-14 Rams, 10:01 4th quarter
Juszczyk, running up the middle, is stuffed! The Rams deny SF a first down in a huge spot!
The ball came out and the Rams recovered, but the 4th & 2 punt was about to commence. McVay is going to challenge!
This better work, or this will become a coaching nightmare for McVay.
Updated
49ers 17-14 Rams, 10:40 4th quarter
Now Garoppolo has Samuel on his right side - he turns and runs for another first down. This is looking quite competent.
Now Mitchell steamrolls for nine, over everybody, and SF are moving briskly across midfield.
But now Mitchell takes a handoff and is hit for a loss. So this becomes a very important 3rd & 2 play.
49ers 17-14 Rams, 12:51 4th quarter
Samuel takes the kickoff but can only get to the 14. A lot of Rams players jumping around looking excited. Momentum shift? Let’s see.
On first down, Jimmy J gets time and hits Mitchell - big gain of 21 to start this drive!
Updated
49ers 17-14 Rams, 13:30 4th quarter
The Blanton show continues with another reception of nine over the middle. He now has more touches this game than all this season!
So now it’s 3rd & 1 at the 11. Huge down right here.
Stafford is in the shotgun - he’s gonna throw, and find Cooper Kupp, who is in the end zone: touchdown!
The Rams come right back!
49ers 17-7 Rams, end of 3rd quarter
Blanton takes a toss from Stafford and he has room! The last of LA’s TE’s has a gain of 20, to the SF 20. And the quarter ends...they’re just flying by.
To the 4th!
49ers 17-7 Rams, 0:19 3rd quarter
So lots of time left, but I have to say, as far as football goes, these quarters have been moving along quite briskly.
Stafford hits Kupp, and then Al-Shaair gets down for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play, but I saw nothing and don’t understand that at all.
So the Rams are already at midfield when Kupp is hit again, this time Stafford finds him down the far sideline - a gain of 11.
The ball is at the SF 40 and LA can’t get the play off! They call their second time out and that’s just a mess.
They have just one left.
TOUCHDOWN! 49ers 17-7 Rams, 1:59 3rd quarter
Jimmy G has time and now has Kittle wide open for the touchdown!
Jimmy “Just Enough” does it again!
Niners in command at SoFi!
49ers 10-7 Rams, 2:47 3rd quarter
Now it’s 3rd & 10. Garoppolo in the shotgun, has time and has Jennings over the middle! He’s stood up, but keeps fighting and leans over the first down mark! Huge play right there by the third string wideout!
Niners are in the red zone!
49ers 10-7 Rams, 3:34 3rd quarter
Samuel catches a screen on the near side and breaks free for a first down at LA’s 26. That’s a big 14-yard gain for Samuel!
49ers 10-7 Rams, 5:39 3rd quarter
Aiyuk over the middle for a first down reception! SF to the Rams’ 39!
49ers 10-7 Rams, 6:39 3rd quarter
On 2nd & 10, Samuel runs for five, setting up a big third down.
The Rams’ head coach Sean McVay challenged the spot, which was really dumb. They lost the challenge, and thus, lost a timeout. Remember that.
Updated
TURNOVER ON DOWNS! 49ers 10-7 Rams, 7:53 3rd quarter
The Rams are short and SF takes over at their 43! That’s potentially a huge moment right there in this game.
49ers 10-7 Rams, 7:53 3rd quarter
A Stafford sneak - he looks short but it’s down to the spot of course. Let’s see.
49ers 10-7 Rams, 8:03 3rd quarter
On 3rd & 1, Stafford is back to throw...nobody available and he throws it away.
Now the Rams will go for it!
49ers 10-7 Rams, 9:01 3rd quarter
Great move by Beckham to break free from Mosley for a first down catch on the sideline.
And again - this time Beckham is in the middle of the field. That’s 39 yards to Beckham on consecutive plays.
The Rams are at the Niners 43.
Meanwhile, Higbee will not return for LA - that’s a blow to their embattled TE unit.
49ers 10-7 Rams, 10:45 3rd quarter
it’s a handoff to Kupp and Mosely creeps up from the corner position and puts a hit on the Rams wideout. It doesn’t put him down, but sends him backwards a few feet: it’s another example of just how physical this Niners defense can be.
Williams is down for the Niners - timeout on the field.
It’s 2nd & 9 from the Rams nine.
49ers 10-7 Rams, 10:49 3rd quarter
On 3rd & 9, Goroppolo’s throw is tipped by Gaines (which makes up for his earlier penalty) and it’s incomplete.
The Rams hold and force a punt: they’ll take over on their own 11.
Updated
49ers 10-7 Rams, 10:59 3rd quarter
FOX TV in the US has a great shot of Gould chipping field goals right over the Rams before the start of the second half. So Gould, quite a mouthy kicker, gets into it with Ramsey, again.
Meanwhile, Aiyuk draws an illegal contact penalty and that’s another 49ers first down by penalty.
Then Mitchell has a first down completion on the far side for the Niners third first down of this drive. Somehow they’re across midfield, by, you guessed it, doing mostly nothing.
49ers 10-7 Rams, 13:48 3rd quarter
Jimmy G runs to his right and then throws across his body, nearly into the hands of Ramsey, who is on the wrong team.
That was bananas. What was he doing?
Now it’s 3rd & 4, but we have a flag - it’s a neutral zone infraction on Gaines, handing a first down to SF.
That was easy.
Stats
It’s been a physical game so far and the Rams have more of everything, except points. LA have out gained SF 199 to 120 yards. Stafford is 14/24 for 130 yards with a TD and INT. Jimmy G is 8/12 for 137.
And we’re back...SF has the ball to start the second half.
Will Wiles wants to talk about the Deeebo Samuel hit.
The contrast between the contact laws in NFL and rugby are clear for all to see in that hit. Hitting a player that hard in the air would result in a red card in rugby union to protect player safety yet its also true that the NFL has been far more successful in adopting safer concussion protocols than union (although many players suffered before they did). The stop start nature of NFL does mean heavy contacts aren’t made worse by continuous exertion immediately afterwards even if the contacts themselves can be ferocious.
I’m just glad the guy is still alive.
FIELD GOAL 49ers 10-7 Rams, end of first half
Gould connects for his 21st consecutive post-season field goal, and the half ends with the Niners taking the lead.
And this is classic Jimmy G/Niners football - they don’t do much of anything and they have the lead.
That’s some trick.
Jalen Ramsey talks some crap to Gould on the way out, which is interesting.
Halftime.
I will not stand for Jalen Ramsey talking smack to Robbie Gould. That's Bears royalty damnit.
— bigkorb (@bigkorb) January 31, 2022
49ers 7-7 Rams, 0:02 2nd quarter
Jimmy G, in trouble, steps up in the pocket and scrambles for a few yards. SF timeout, their last.
It’s 3rd & 6 - here comes the FG unit, a 38-yard attempt for Gould.
Updated
49ers 7-7 Rams, 0:20 2nd quarter
Jimmy G, in the pocket, a few steps to his right, and a little pass to Hasty for a few yards. He follows that with a pass to the Rams 25 to Aiyuk.
Garoppolo spikes the ball to stop the clock.
49ers 7-7 Rams, 0:51 2nd quarter
Deebo looks to be ok, and what’s more, Kittle has a first down catch over the middle! So that’s a strong turn of events. SF use their second timeout - they’re at the LA 43.
49ers 7-7 Rams, 1:01 2nd quarter
Samuel on the ground, runs right for two yards.
Taking his time, Jimmy G huddles, heads into the shotgun and passes incomplete to Samuel who is DESTROYED running over the middle. Wow! That was a shot, totally clean, from Mitchell!
And Samuel is down on his back. His ability to continue is crucial for the Niners attack, of course. A lot of breath holding right now for SF fans. Injury timeout.
49ers 7-7 Rams, 1:50 2nd quarter
Stafford is in the shotgun - he’s going deep down the far sideline looking for Beckham, incomplete.
Stafford was hit and he’s a little limpy.
Now Matt Gay is on trying to kick a 54-yard field goal but he’s way WAY right. And short as well.
San Francisco, who have had the ball for just 7:51 of this half, will take over at their own 44 and all of their timeouts.
49ers 7-7 Rams, 2:00 2nd quarter
Akers has a short run for the first down. Now Stafford is back to pass, with time, and Kupp is open over the middle. He drops it! Wow. Nobody around and he flat out just missed it.
Stafford is back looking for Kupp on the near side, and this time he’s got it, setting up a 3rd & 1.
Michel has a first time as LA crosses the SF 40. That’s six straight third down conversions for the Rams.
Now Stafford has Skowronek who is WIDE open in the end zone but he drops it!
Some big drops on this drive, wouldn’t you say?
Two plays later, it’s the two minute warning. When we return...3rd & 8 at the Niners 36.
49ers 7-7 Rams, 4:13 2nd quarter
So a 18-play TD drive is followed by a four play TD drive.
Rams start at their 23. Akers is back and runs for a yard.
Now Stafford faces pressure from Kevin Givens and his pass towards Kupp is well short.
Its 3rd & 9, and the Niners crowd is making noise. Stafford, in traffic, fires and finds Beckham over the middle for a first down!
That’s a huge play right there stopping a potential three and out.
Next play - Akers runs for nine and the Rams are on the move near midfield.
49ers 7-7 Rams, 6:10 2nd quarter
OK, so what will Jimmy J and company do to respond to that lengthy drive?
He’s in the shotgun on 2nd & 8 and has Aiyuk on the far sideline! He was heading to the end zone but his momentum took him out of bounds. Instead it’s a 31-yard gain to the LA 42, which is a decent consolation prize.
A false start penalty and a three yard run by Mitchell follow. It’s 2nd & 12.
Now G hits Samuel on a wideout screen and he’s making them miss, and he’s still on his feet, and he is in the end zone! Wow! What a run by Samuel who just showed you why he does everything you can do on offense except throw his own catches!
It’s a 44-yard TD reception and we are tied!
TOUCHDOWN! 49ers 0-7 Rams, 8:46 2nd quarter
Kupp runs a route to the corner of the end zone and makes a huge TD catch on third and long! The Rams have the lead, much to the chagrin of this Niners crowd.
So this drive that began all the way back on the three yard line, ends in pay dirt for LA after 18 plays, all Rams season bests according to FOX TV.
Updated
49ers 0-0 Rams, 9:15 2nd quarter
Stafford is sacked! It’s Bosa who takes down Stafford for a loss of five!
It’s 2nd & 15 - Michel runs for a yard or so, setting up a 3rd and super long.
49ers 0-0 Rams, 10:52 2nd quarter
Stafford hits Kupp on the 13 yard line of SF. The catch on the far sideline has LA in the red zone!
49ers 0-0 Rams, 10:59 2nd quarter
Akers is in the locker-room being checked out says FOX TV in the US. He’s questionable and so is Higbee. So they’re falling fast for LA.
Meanwhile reserve TE Kendall Blanton for 13 yards and a first down.
Two plays later, Stafford hits Kupp for seven. Greenlaw is down for San Francisco and we have an injury timeout.
Rams are at the 28 and it’s 3rd & 6.
49ers 0-0 Rams, 12:51 2nd quarter
Toss to Akers as the second quarter begins - he’s patient, runs to his right, and eventually finds six yards.
Now Stafford hits Beckham quickly and he runs for a first down. So some slow moving possession here for LA, who are on their own 40.
On 2nd & 10, Stafford throws the ball into the ground for an incomplete pass, so the Niners running into the end zone matters not.
It’s 3rd & long. Stafford has nobody but he does have his legs! There goes the Rams QB, finding space and a first down! And the Rams are across midfield!
49ers 0-0 Rams, end of 1st quarter
OK, here we go. Stafford hands it to Michel who has enough for the first down after a gain of three up the middle.
LA are at their own 30, and that’s how this mostly quiet quarter ends.
49ers 0-0 Rams, 0:34 1st quarter
On 2nd & 6, Stafford tosses to Akers who runs right for four yards.
It’s 3rd & 2.
Stafford in the shotgun and there’s a whistle.
Time out LA.
Updated
49ers 0-0 Rams, 2:00 1st quarter
Tyler Higbee is limping on the sideline after Akers runs for no gain. Yikes.
Now Michel trots for eight yards. I
So it’s 3rd & 2 - Stafford fires to the left sideline looking for Jefferson, incomplete. But Jefferson is gonna get done for interference, which is the right call.
First down Rams at the 20.
49ers 0-0 Rams, 3:19 1st quarter
The Niners drive stalls: Jimmy throws on his back foot, right into an Aiyuk sandwich and the ball falls harmlessly to the turf, luckily for SF.
The Rams will start deep in their own territory after a great punt parks the pill at the three!
Agro!
Warner hits Stafford as he was leaving the play and so the QB had two reasons to be angry after that interception. This division rivalry could get chippy!
Meanwhile, back-to-back completions for Jimmy G, first to Aiyuk and then to Mitchell, have SF across midfield.
INTERCEPTION! 49ers 0-0 Rams, 6:53 1st quarter
Jimmy Ward picks off a deflection off the hand of Williams who breaks up a third down Stafford pass intended for Kupp in the end zone!
So a ten play drive ends in a key turnover as the Niners take over at the 23.
Updated
49ers 0-0 Rams, 7:42 1st quarter
Akers is turning his wheels and has room: he’s inside the SF 20! A 14-yard run down to the eight!
49ers 0-0 Rams, 9:42 1st quarter
Cooper Kupp has the first, first down of this game - a 17-yard catch on the near hash.
And there’s more - Stafford is rolling to his right, throwing and finding Higbee for another first down throw for 13.
The Rams are really rolling - Beckham has yet another first down after a bullet throw by the QB into Jr’s hands. It’s a 10-yard gain to the Niners 22!
49ers 0-0 Rams, 11:41 1st quarter
Akers, right up the gut for three yards starts the Rams second drive.
Then play-action and Stafford faces pressure and throws it away. It’s another 3rd & 7 coming up.
49ers 0-0 Rams, 12:25 1st quarter
Samuel runs right and runs nowhere for no gain. And then he has the ball again, finding more room, three yards this time.
So now it’s 3rd & 7 - Kittle is totally open but Jimmy G is way way off in his throw. So two bad throws from the QB’s cost their team first downs, and it’s a pair of three and outs here in the first quarter.
A 44 yard punt follows from Wishnowsky to the Rams 33. Fair catch, and an early bathroom break for me. Uh oh. Gotta chill pout on that water.
Updated
Kickoff!
Finally - we have an NFC Championship game, and it’s underway - that following Michael Buffer’s rumble announcement, which is, well, very interesting.
Anyway, the Niners win the toss and differ, the kickoff goes into the endzone, and Beckham makes a catch on the near side for a gain of three to get us going.
Then on 3rd & 3, Beckham is open but Stafford’s throw is off, behind the wideout.
Hekker punts to SF, Benjamin takes it to the 20, and Jimmy G is on.
National Anthem
It’s Grammy Award winning singer songwriter, Brandy, who takes the mic and delivers the US national anthem at SoFi Stadium, moments before kickoff. It’s a bit of an LA version - a few bells and whistles, which were handled well. I’ll give it a 7.75/10. Good work Brandy!
Can we get this going now please?
Prediction time
I am really on the fence on this one, but if you’re going to make me make a prediction, I say the Rams put it all together completely blow the Niners out of the water, 31-17. Now that wouldn’t be a whole lot of fun to blog, so hopefully I am totally wrong.
Jimmy G...
Jimmy G dressed to impress 👌 pic.twitter.com/k7ed1rDSqm
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) January 30, 2022
Jeez - this kind of makes me feel bad for live blogging in nasty shorts and a ripped up t-shirt. Just don’t tell anyone.
Bengals v ????
So we’re about to find out if the Niners will face Cincy for the third time in Super Bowl history, or, if we’ll have the first time matchup of CIN v LAR.
We are also about to find out if Kelly Stafford’s plan to buy up many many very expensive tickets and give them away to Rams fans helps keep Niners fans out of SoFi Stadium. There’s at least one lucky Rams recipient out there...
WOW IT HAPPENED! My wife got two tickets from Kelly Stafford! I’m Numb! So excited!!! Let’s gooooooo!!!!#RamsHouse
— matt nielsen (@kapone1025) January 30, 2022
The Bengals are going to the Super Bowl!
Joe Burrow and his huge stones are heading to LA for Super Bowl 56 in two weeks time after an incredible overtime win on the road in KC.
Wow! I am so glad we don’t have to se the Chiefs again! Thank you!
the OBJ factor
Tabloid regular Odell Beckham Jr. has been through a lot during his embattled NFL career, a list that including major injuries, and of course, plenty of personal strife and controversy. Yet Beckham has always insisted that the negative narrative surrounding the wideout is all wrong. And maybe he’s right. Here’s what Cooper Kupp said about Beckham recently.
He’s a huge asset to our receiver room, so we’re really happy to have him.
And this from Jalen Ramsey:
Having him as a teammate is great, honestly. He’s like the offensive version of myself. He’s very talented, has a whole lot of skill set, but just his competitive nature, his will to and want to be great and then, he’s kind of misunderstood, too. He’s really a good teammate and people kind of don’t have that message out about him.
No question, OBJ, signed for just $1.25 seems to be having a good time in LA. And maybe that’s because there’s zero chance of him being the no1 target for Matthew Stafford with Cooper Kupp around. Against Arizona in week 19, he threw a 40-yard TD pass, and has six touchdown catches since joining LA.
Being in a support role seems to suit Beckham, who has finally found a winning situation in LA. It will be interesting to see if he prefers to stick with what’s working well come this offseason.
Meanwhile, we’re in OT over in the AFC Championship, and the Chiefs won the toss. Again. But the Bengals defense has a lot more life in it than the Bills did last week at this stage. How will it end?
Updated
Great Red Whip
That’s Deebo. Deebo Samuel. And the all-pro wideout has been clocking OT running the ball more and more for the 49ers - 10 times in each of the last two playoff games v Dallas and Green Bay, both season highs. No question, it’s working, but it does come at a physical cost to the Niners all-everything. Deebo was beat up last week in Wisconsin, but Shanahan’s answer to increased contact is to work him out less during the week, not work him less on game day. Jimmy G needs his biggest weapon in tip top shape: will Shanahan press his luck in LA? Stay tuned.
We’re getting closer to kickoff. Stick with us!
Updated
What are you doing here?
Listen, I appreciate it and all, but you should be with Hunter following the epic AFC Championship game. See you soon!
Welcome!
Howdy folks, and welcome to our coverage of the NFC championship, which in this case is kind of an extension of the NFC West championship.
It’s the San Francisco 49ers, on the road in the cushy conditions of a state of the art soon to be Super Bowl facility, against an embattled, support challenged home team: the Los Angeles Rams.
Indeed, the Rams - better quarterback, more talent, better divisional finish, home game - are in something of a strange position. LA seem to fit neatly into the “nobody likes us” category, despite all the advantages listed above, including that January home game you play all season to earn. Or even worse, perhaps it’s the “nobody cares about us” slot they sit in (gulp).
Such is the life of a Los Angeles based NFL team: fancy address, few fans. There was a reason the city was a void of the nations most popular league for so long: they’re just not that into it. Or maybe LA, a city of considerable diaspora, are just into others, like the 49ers for example: this weeks visiting home team.
Even worse for the Rams, San Francisco beat them twice in the regular season, most recently, 27-24 in this very same venue just a few weeks ago, extending their formidable winning streak to six against the SoCal franchise.
So yes, there’s a lot of negative story lines out there when it comes to these Rams. And not all of it is fair of course: these Rams are actually an excellent team, and are actually favored to win today. And if they do win, they’ll be in their second Super Bowl in four seasons. Plenty of franchises would sign up for that (I can think of two right here in New York).
This is the team of QB Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Even Matt Gay, whose clutch kick put them into the NFC title game is a Pro Bowler. So this team has Supeer Bowl caliber weaponry - they just have few fans and can’t beat the Niners. Which is a bit problematic.
That’s because the Niners strikingly handsome quarterback Jimmy Garropolo, ok/fine to good, only sometimes very good, is further proof that it is possible for a franchise to get into big games without the Mahomes’ and Rodgers’ of the world, and actually win them. (Brad Johnson and Trent Dilfer also helped).
The mortal Jimmy G does excels beyond his natural talent level, in part because he can rely on the dynamic cast he’s surrounded with - five pro-bowlers, seven alternates, including wideout Deebo Samuel and tight end George Kittle. They are well coached by head coach Kyle Shanahan, and have the mettle to win on the road, in the cold and snow against a team with three more wins and a Rodgers.
That means there’s no fear for these 49ers in the controlled, considerably friendlier atmosphere where these two teams will play today.
How will it end? Well, that’s what we’re here to find out. We’ll have a bit more pre-game fodder before kickoff and get to your thoughts, providing you snd them in. Seriously, hit me with anything - I’m here for you. Email me with your thoughts or tweet @LengelDavid and I’ll put your name in the paper (your mom will be so proud).
Back soon with more: stick with us!
David will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s a quick preview of today’s game:
What the 49ers need to do to win: They need to find a way to get the best out of their quarterbacks. Plural. The 49ers beat the Packers last weekend in spite of their signal-caller, not because of him. Jimmy Garoppolo looked determined to throw his second interception of the day late in Saturday’s game and it was telling that the season-changing play against the Green Bay Packers was a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. Garoppolo will start but don’t be surprised if the team runs a few plays for rookie Trey Lance in key spots, as they did occasionally throughout the season, particularly when the in-game situation calls for a more mobile quarterback.
What the Rams need to do to win: Exploit the quarterback mismatch. Matthew Stafford is coming off a two-touchdown performance with 366 passing yards in the divisional round game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he comfortably outplayed Tom Brady. This time around, the starting QB on the other side is Brady’s former understudy. This is exactly why the Rams made the move to trade Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions for Stafford in the first place: with Goff this one would be a coin flip, but with their new big-armed QB, they’re favorites on merit.
Player to watch: Cooper Kupp, wide receiver, Los Angeles Rams. He’s not the most famous receiver on the roster – that would probably be Odell Beckham Jr (who is currently playing for fairy dust) – but Kupp is definitely the Rams’ No 1 receiving option. During the regular season, he led the league in yards after the catch: 848 in total, ranking him above Deebo Samuel, his more versatile counterpoint on the opposing team.
Prediction: Rams over 49ers. This one promises to be a much more competitive matchup than the AFC title game and an influx of Niners fans may ensure that the Rams do not even have much of a home-field advantage in LA. Ultimately, though, the 49ers needed the Packers to commit some heinous special teams blunders in order to squeak out a 13-10 victory, and it doesn’t feel like the Rams will be quite as accommodating.
