The NFC Championship game is officially upon us, and we have ourselves a good one. The San Francisco 49ers will be traveling to play against the Los Angeles Rams. This game will be the third matchup this season between these two squads, but the 49ers have won the last six games against their divisional rivals. Could the streak continue and get them into the Super Bowl?
Let’s take a look at the San Francisco 49ers first. They have been heavy underdog in every single game they have played since the season finale and have won them all. Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t really a terrific quarterback, but his game management has been enough to get by. The real players on this offense are George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Elijah Mitchell. The three of them attribute for the majority of their offensive yards. It helps when you have an offensive line that is arguably the best in the league as well. Flipping over to their defense now, Fred Warner and Nick Bosa are two of the best at their respective positions. On top of all that, their head coach Kyle Shanahan does an incredibly good job at creating a wild game plan that opposing teams don’t expect.
Unfortunately, so does Sean McVay on the Rams. Los Angeles is without a doubt the team with the most star power in the league. On offense, Matthew Stafford is finally getting his opportunity to win big games on a good team. He is playing behind an experienced offensive line with some stellar weapons around him. In the passing game we have Cooper Kupp, the possible Offensive Player of the Year, and Odell Beckham, mid-season acquisition. In the backfield, they have Cam Akers back from his injury, Sony Michel and Darrell Henderson. That isn’t even the strongest part of their team which is even scarier. On defense, they have Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. Both of whom are probably the best players at their positions this season and even last season as well. That isn’t all either. Von Miller was acquired at the halfway point of the season and has been huge playing alongside Donald on that defensive line. Teams consistently have to leave either Donald or Miller one on one on the outside and it never ends well. Plus, we can’t forget about the pickup of Eric Weddle. Weddle was retired the entire season yet returned to play a playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and contribute.
Both teams know each other incredibly well, which will make for a phenomenal football game. Many people may think that the Rams will blow them out of the water but that just isn’t going to happen at all. I also wouldn’t read too much into the fact that the 49ers have won six straight against them. It’s wildly difficult to beat a team three times in one season, and especially on the road in the playoffs. I think that the Rams will find some way to win this game, and that Garoppolo won’t be able to make enough plays down the stretch.