Los Angeles @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 13, 2019 ) San Francisco 20, L.A. Rams 7

The San Francisco 49ers bolted out of the blocks by winning their first eight games only to split their next six to find themselves deadlocked atop the NFC West. Despite their recent stumble, the 49ers can take a significant step toward the No. 1 seed in the conference should they defeat the visiting Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night.

San Francisco can ill afford to look past the Rams and ahead to next week's pivotal showdown with division co-leader Seattle, especially after inexplicably dropping a 29-22 setback to Atlanta on Sunday. "We definitely have to play better. I don't think that we played at any type of intensity like we've been playing all year, and we've got to figure that out," said Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle, who erupted for a career-high 13 receptions and 134 yards against the Falcons. Los Angeles absorbed a substantial hit to its flickering wild-card hopes after answering a lopsided win over Arizona and a dismantling of the Seahawks with a dud in Dallas on Sunday. In order to secure a third consecutive playoff berth, the Rams must defeat both the 49ers and Cardinals while needing the Vikings to lose at home to Green Bay and Chicago.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network. LINE: 49ers -6.5. O/U: 45

ABOUT THE RAMS (8-6): Jared Goff struggled mightily in Los Angeles' 20-7 setback to San Francisco on Oct. 13, completing 13 passes for a career-low 78 yards while seeing his team go 0-for-9 on third-down conversion attempts. Goff has an additional hurdle in the rematch against the NFL's top-ranked pass defense, as the former No. 1 overall pick is nursing a bruised thumb on his throwing hand sustained in the first half of a 44-21 setback to Dallas. Todd Gurley had a rushing and receiving touchdown against the Cowboys to find the end zone for the 11th time (nine rushing, two receiving) in his last 10 games, although he sat out the clash with the 49ers due to a bruised thigh. Tyler Higbee turned a career-high 12 receptions into 111 yards last week to become the first Rams tight end in the Super Bowl era with three consecutive triple-digit yardage performances.

ABOUT THE 49ERS (11-3): Signed to a five-year, $137.5 million contract, Jimmy Garoppolo has slowly started to pay dividends by recording a 110-plus passer rating in four of his past five starts. "I don't think it's doing anything special or anyone making a crazy play. It's just playing within the offense and just following your rules," the 28-year-old Garoppolo said. Raheem Mostert has five touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving) in his past four games while fellow running back Tevin Coleman found the end zone in the recent contest versus the Rams. Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead as well as fellow Pro Bowl alternate Fred Warner have been dominant at home this season for the 49ers. Buckner has recorded 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles at Levi's Stadium, Armstead has 6.5 of his club-best 10 sacks at home and leading tackler Warner has collected at least nine in four straight games in Santa Clara.

EXTRA POINTS

1. In addition to Kittle, San Francisco FB Kyle Juszczyk, DE Nick Bosa and CB Richard Sherman received starting spots on the NFC Pro Bowl team on Tuesday.

2. Rams Pro Bowl DT Aaron Donald has recorded at least one sack in five consecutive meetings with the 49ers.

3. Los Angeles LB Cory Littleton collected a season high-tying 14 tackles in the first encounter with San Francisco.

PREDICTION: 49ers 26, Rams 17