The San Francisco 49ers (5-10) will make a relatively short trip to Los Angeles to take on the Rams (11-4) in the regular season finale this Sunday.
Rams’ head coach Sean McVay has opted to sit many of the team’s starters in preservation for the playoffs. He’s clearly more concerned about the team’s health than winning a game that has no bearing on their seeding.
It should still be a fun game though, as many of the Rams’ backup players – who have worked equally as hard throughout the course of the season – will get a chance to compete.
Can Sean Mannion and the boys do enough to squeak out a win and finish off the season sweep of the 49ers this weekend?
The Turf Show Times’ staff have their predictions…
RamBuck (@lannyosu)
I think that the Niners are going to be too much for the 2nd stringers that the Rams will trot out on Sunday. Sean Mannion will be asked to manage the game, but won’t be asked to do too much. The purpose of this game is to allow the roster to show what they can do when the Rams are decimated.
Prediction: 49ers win, 21-14
Tevin Broner (@T_Bron)
It’s unrealistic to assume that backups will win. I would be happy to see Sean Mannion win, but I don’t expect it.
Prediction: 49ers win, 21-17
EddieP (@iAmEddieP_)
The Rams will be without a majority of its starters with HC Sean McVay resting them for the wild card playoff game. Jimmy G has looked pretty sweet up in the Bay Area, and the record is no joke – 4 wins in a row is nothing to scoff at.
No Gurley, no Goff, no Donald, no Kupp? No win for Rams.
Prediction: 49ers win, 23-17
Joey Aucoin (@LaRamsRamsRams)
Rams are gonna lose this one, but it’ll be close. Sean Mannion will play OK, but the brightest star will be WR Josh Reynolds. Jimmy G and the 9ers are going to prove that the NFC west isn’t just a two team division next year.
Prediction: 49ers win, 21-17
TG25 (@MrTimGodfrey)
Jimmy G is hot. He’s also good at football. But McVay is hotter and a better football mind, so the Rams will sweep SanFran on the arm of future HOF Sean Mannion, just like Dickerson predicted that one time.
Prediction: Rams win, 21-20
Elijah Kim (@Football_EZK)
The Rams are resting their key starters which will likely give Jimmy G and the 49ers a lot of points and a fifth straight victory. With the Rams resting, look for the backups to play hard for a half until the sweet play of Jimmy Garoppolo allows the 49ers to pull away.
Prediction: 49ers win, 31-17
Eric Nagel (@Eric_nagel)
Rawr
Prediction: 49ers win, 20-17
Sosa Kremenjas (@SosaKre)
The Rams play callers are great, and I suspect the Rams young players (Pharoh, JRey, and Malcolm Brown) will do a solid job filling in. Jimmy G is ultimately handed his first L as a 49er, and the Rams enter the post season at 12-4.
Prediction: Rams win, 20-17
Sean Wilkinson (@Papa_Lurch)
The Rams are resting some key players for the offseason and are missing several others with injuries. I think the 49ers pull this one out.
Prediction: 49ers win, 24-20
3k (@3k_)
Prediction: Rams win, 19-17
Brandon Bate (@NoPlanB_)
I love them boys, but there ain’t no way.
Prediction: 49ers win, 27-13