It’s an NFC West showdown tonight as the San Francisco 49ers are a 3-point home favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook against the Los Angeles Rams. This morning on GoJo and Golic, Mike Golic Sr. and Mike Golic Jr. dove into who has the edge in this divisional clash and the major playoff implications behind it.
With both teams coming off impressive victories last week and the Rams getting the best of the 49ers in their first meeting, Emerson Lotzia asked GoJo who he was giving the edge tonight. GoJo expressed that despite the 49ers being the 3-point home favorites, he was going to go with the Rams. He highlighted that while the Rams’ win over Buffalo showcased their potential, some aspects of that victory might not be sustainable, referencing a piece by ESPN’s Ben Solak. However, with Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua all healthy, the Rams offense has been POTENT, holding a 6-2 record when the trio plays together. Conversely, the 49ers’ recent bounce-back win came under unusual circumstances, including facing a struggling Bears team amid coaching turmoil and a rookie quarterback adapting to a new play caller. GoJo believes the Rams are better positioned to exploit the weaknesses created by the 49ers’ ongoing injury challenges.
Senior agreed with GoJo, also backing the Rams tonight due to their offense having the ability to score in bunches, something he doesn’t think the 49ers can match. He pointed out San Francisco’s big win over the Bears but dismissed it because it’s the Bears. Against more formidable opponents like the Bills and Packers, the 49ers were outmatched, proving they’re not in the league’s upper echelon. As the great Bill Parcells famously said, “You are what your record says you are,” and 6-7 is exactly what the 49ers are, Senior added. While injuries are a factor, Senior believes every team deals with them, and the 49ers just aren’t scoring at a level that can compete with the Rams.
Talking about the Rams’ defense, GoJo pointed out that while the Rams have a great front four, their secondary leaves something to be desired. GoJo pointed out that over the last two weeks, they ranked 29th in EPA per play allowed, 22nd in DVOA and 27th in total defense. To GoJo’s point, unless the Rams are forcing turnovers, they haven’t been very effective. Senior also wondered if Jared Verse has hit the rookie wall, with his pass rush rate has dropping significantly over the last two weeks — from the 20s to about 11%.
Despite the back end of the Rams’ defense struggling, Senior questions if the 49ers can capitalize given their litany of injuries. Senior pointed to how tight end George Kittle has been nicked up, and while he’s been their top receiver, Jauan Jennings has technically taken the lead in receptions — though just by one. Deebo Samuel, on the other hand, has only 40 catches this season, leaving many wondering where he’s been in the offense. The 49ers are also down two running backs, relying on Isaac Guerendo to carry the load, and their defense is also banged up. With all these injuries, it’s hard to see how they bounce back.
The Rams, on the other hand, are sitting at 7-6 and clearly understand what they are playing for. Senior says they’re on the brink of making the playoffs, trailing behind Minnesota, Green Bay and Washington in the Wild Card race. San Francisco, Arizona and Atlanta are close behind at 6-7, so a win tonight could shift things for the 49ers. Senior contends that Los Angeles has shown they can deliver when the Rams’ offense is healthy. While there have been questions about consistency, they will be in good shape as long as their offensive line holds up.
GoJo highlighted the major concerns for the 49ers heading into the game, especially on the offensive line. With Trent Williams already ruled out, Aaron Banks is questionable after missing the last game, and his backup Ben Bartch is also out, so the Niners are scrambling to fill critical gaps. Malik Mustafa is out, and even Nick Bosa is questionable on the defensive side. These absences on the offensive line could make them vulnerable to the Rams’ pass rush, especially since pressuring Brock Purdy in the pocket has been shown to significantly disrupt his game. On offense, while Kittle is coming off a massive 150-yard game, the Rams’ defense will likely focus on shutting him down. With injuries piling up at running back and the offense losing its versatility, GoJo believes this is the perfect opportunity for San Francisco to lean on Samuel, if for no other reason than they’re running out of options.
In the end, for the Rams to make a real push, GoJo says they’ll need to win games they might not have expected to down the stretch. He acknowledged the offensive line showed improvement last week, but the Rams’ real strength lies in their skill players, who can deliver game-changing performances when fully locked in. While it’s unlikely they’ll replicate going 11-of-15 on third downs, considering their season average of 33% in that area, GoJo believes the Rams can still be great. On his best day, Matthew Stafford remains one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league.
"The Rams are peaking at the right time and understanding the opportunity they've got in front of them.
We know they're capable of being great. On his best day, Matthew Stafford can still be one of the five best quarterbacks in this league." @mikegolicjr pic.twitter.com/GXErp92zr5
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) December 12, 2024
So, can the Rams leap over the Washington Commanders and sneak into the playoffs as a Wild Card team? Senior broke down the schedules, noting that Washington faces the Saints, Eagles, Falcons and Cowboys, with only the Eagles being above .500. This gives Washington a favorable path to maintain their position. However, Senior leans toward the Rams. Their remaining schedule includes matchups against the 49ers, Jets, Cardinals and Seahawks. If the Rams win out they could even take the division title, potentially bypassing the need for a Wild Card altogether. GoJo was in agreement that he thinks the Rams will make the playoffs. While he doesn’t expect them to dominate like they did against the Bills every week, the team’s improving health and momentum make them a strong contender to secure a postseason spot.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: Chapel Hill Bill, Eagles drama heats up, and Thursday Nigth Football Preview-plus SEA Julian Love Joins the Show
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information
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