Sarah Barshop
Nick Wagoner
Nick Wagoner
ESPN Workers Author
Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has coated the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ESPN since 2016, having beforehand coated the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, together with three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In his 10 years with the corporate, Nick has led ESPN’s protection of the Niners’ 2019 Tremendous Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the primary overtly homosexual participant drafted to the NFL, Sam’s subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the workforce’s relocation and stadium saga. You possibly can observe Nick through Twitter @nwagoner
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 keeping with ESPN Analytics. These figures went up considerably after the victory: The Rams’ playoff possibilities now sit at 52% and successful 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 underneath head coach Sean McVay, together with a visit to Tremendous Bowl LIII and a victory in Tremendous Bowl LVI.
At 8-6, the Rams now sit half a sport again of the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks.
But when the Rams are to make a playoff run, it can require some consistency from their offense, an space that has been a wrestle.
Simply 4 days after scoring a season-high 44 factors in opposition to the Buffalo Payments — a workforce that had already clinched its division — Los Angeles struggled to maneuver the ball on a wet night time.
Within the first 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 energetic 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 sport with no touchdowns on both aspect.
Eye-popping stat: For the primary time since McVay was employed in 2017, the Rams didn’t get a primary down on their first 4 offensive drives, in keeping with ESPN Analysis. 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: Sluggish begin. Towards the 49ers, the Rams failed to attain within the first quarter for the ninth time this season. In response to ESPN Analysis, that’s tied with the Bears for second within the NFL. Within the extraordinarily moist circumstances, they failed to search out methods to constantly set up the run or get the ball to huge receivers in house, placing extra strain on the protection. — Sarah Barshop
Subsequent sport: 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 in opposition to 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 damage figured to supply a further spark for a workforce 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 workforce that has gained its share of old school NFC West slugfests, Thursday’s defeat hammered dwelling the purpose that the Niners are not kings of the division.
Though it was solely three factors, the Niners blew a fourth-quarter lead of three or extra factors in opposition to an NFC West opponent for the fourth time this season. It makes them the primary workforce to do this for the reason that 2000 New England Patriots and successfully kills San Francisco’s hope of a 3rd straight division crown and a playoff berth.
Certain, 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 should win out. Contemplating 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 pattern: In a decent, low-scoring sport akin to Thursday’s, particular groups figured to play a outstanding position within the end result. Although the Niners entered ranked thirty second within the league in anticipated factors added through particular groups, there have been no fingers to be pointed at that unit in opposition to the Rams.
Kicker Jake Moody made his area objective 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 (that they had a pair of 5-yard penalties on punts) however the Niners typically had no back-breaking errors within the third section. That is sufficient to qualify.
QB breakdown: Brock Purdy was largely stable regardless of the rain doing him no favors, however the determination to throw deep that changed into an interception was the most important mistake of the sport.
Though 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 of greater than 5 minutes to go, the Niners confronted second-and-10 on the Rams’ 33. With Moody already changing a pair of lengthy area targets, that was area objective vary.
However quarterback Purdy overpassed the state of affairs and tried to power a deep ball to wideout Jennings deep down the suitable sideline. Rams cornerback Darious Williams picked it off ultimately zone for a touchback to kill the drive. — Nick Wagoner
Subsequent sport: at Dolphins (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Dec. 22)
