Week 18 of the 2021 NFL Season brings with it a divisional duel between 49ers Y Rams with too many postseason implications for the NFC. On the one hand, San Francisco is urged to win if it intends to secure the last available ticket to the Playoffs within the National Conference; however, in Los Angeles they need to come out on top to secure the NFC West divisional championship. This is the panorama of both teams heading into the last week of the regular season of the year.
49ers: closing the Garoppolo project with a flourish
The 49ers NFL Season 2021 is on the line. This coming Sunday they will visit SoFi Stadium, home of the Rams, in search of a much-needed victory. If San Francisco manages to get out of Los Angeles they will secure the last available ticket to the Playoffs in the National Conference, otherwise, their immediate future will depend exclusively on what New Orleans can scratch in Atlanta. And, in order not to fall into third hands, those led by Kyle Shanahan must continue with their string of victories against those of Sean McVay.
The 49ers have not lost a game to the Rams since December 30, 2018. Since then, Shanahan has beaten McVay for five consecutive games, with an average of 9.6 margin points per victory. However, San Francisco has failed to beat Los Angeles six straight games since a 17-game winning streak between 1990 and 1998 at the then St. Louis-based team. That must change if the 49ers want the postseason in 2021.
For whom this game could mean everything will be for the QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who currently suffers from a thumb injury and his status towards Week 18 remains unknown, however, the situation transcends much more. Starting from the premise that next season the owner of San Francisco’s offense will be the rookie QB Trey LanceFor Jimmy G, this next game against the Rams is his opportunity to close a cycle with a flourish in San Francisco.
Since his arrival in 2018, for Garoppolo his stay in the team has never been easy. Only in 2019, when he managed to lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl, did he manage to stay healthy throughout the year. Among his three other campaigns with the organization, he has missed a total of 25 matches combined, and it is that unavailability that ultimately cost him his position as a long-term starter. But, heading into the next season, his offers to join the ranks of new rosters are sure to change dramatically depending on whether or not he succeeds in getting the 49ers into the playoffs once again.
Is there a chance that San Francisco will go to the postseason even with a loss? Yes, but depending on a team as inconsistent as Atlanta is not to anyone’s liking. Therefore, the perfect opportunity arrived for the 49ers: to assert their hegemony against the Rams by sweeping the series for the third year in a row, get into the Playoffs and, with any luck, meet Los Angeles directly in the Wild Card Round. and if not, surprise some power like Tampa Bay or Arizona to fight fully for a Super Bowl LVI that, honestly, does not seem like such a crazy idea.
Rams: shake off hegemony at the right time
If there’s a perfect time for Sean McVay to shake off the hegemony that San Francisco and Kyle Shanahan have imposed on him, this is it. The Rams enter Week 18 with the possibility of winning the NFC West divisional championship for the first time since 2018, for this they need one simple thing: defeat or draw against the 49ers at home. If they do, they ensure the No. 2 seed in the National Conference and, therefore, receive at least two postseason games at home.
Otherwise, a defeat could complicate everything. To continue leading their division, they should expect the Seahawks to beat the Cardinals on the road, which on paper doesn’t look easy. Additionally, winning and shutting out their divisional rivals led by Shanahan would surely be sweet revenge after the five consecutive losses they have suffered against their peers in San Francisco.
For the above, the Rams offense must look excellent. This 2021 they lead the league in yards per play (6.10). Furthermore, the WR Cooper Coup He is nowhere near history: he currently has 138 receptions for 1,829 total yards. Needs to catch 12 more shipments to break the NFL record for most catches in a single season, which currently belongs to Michael Thomas (149 rec, 2019); and if he manages to accumulate 135 more yards by air, he would break Calvin Johnson’s mark for most total yards received in a single season (1,964 yds, 2012).
For his part, winning his division would also mean that the project all-in of the Rams is marching looking aft. It is impossible not to forget that this team, thanks to trades like the QB Matthew Stafford, has only one first-round pick projected until the 2024 NFL Draft and, in fact, they haven’t had a first-round pick since 2016. In Los Angeles the idea is to win now, lose afterSo, if this season they fail to win their division and do something relevant in the Playoffs, “losing now” would be one of the biggest disappointments of the season.
Thus, Rams plays a divisional championship while the 49ers seek to stay alive in the 2021 season. One head coach seeks to break his losing streak and the other to maintain his hegemony. One quarterback wants to start his cycle with the organization with a flourish and the other to close his stage in his team in a good way. Very distinct contrasts that are tied in a divisional game where the winner will go on to the Playoffs.
Can the 49ers close out the Garoppolo era with a postseason pass? Can McVay finally prevail over Shanahan to secure NFC West? We read you in the comments below this article and on our social networks.
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