Rams face harsh reality ahead of rivalry clash with 49ers
With rivalries, anything can happen. That’s the theme as the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers clash in Thursday Night Football Week 5.
The Los Angeles Rams face a tough challenge on Thursday Night Football as they host the rival San Francisco 49ers. While the Rams are riding high after a dramatic comeback win, history shows the 49ers play better when wounded. And they’re definitely wounded, dealing with injuries to quarterback Brock Purdy, wide receivers Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall, plus tight end George Kittle on IR and defensive end Nick Bosa out for the season.
Still, in some ways, the Niners have the “advantage”.
Rams-49ers rivalry could decide NFC West fate in Week 5
While the 49ers are dealing with a mess of injuries, their division wins are already banked. They have beaten two NFC West opponents already, which gives them a stronger position in playoff tiebreakers. If they beat the Rams, they’d be sitting at 3-0 in the division, which is huge.
Like the 49ers, the Rams are 3-1, but the Rams’ three wins came against AFC South teams. The 49ers’ wins have been against NFC opponents, which matters much more for tie-breaking and seeding.
And as we know, rivalry games often flip momentum. Even when the 49ers come in banged up, they’ve historically found ways to rebound against the Rams.
The 49ers know that once this Thursday game is over, they get a 10-day break. That makes them more likely to push borderline-injured players to suit up, giving them more talent on the field than they might otherwise risk in a normal week.
With both teams sitting at 3-1, a win for the 49ers could create a huge divisional advantage, making this clash more than just another rivalry game - it could shape the playoff picture.
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