When: Thursday, 5:15 p.m.
Where: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara)
TV/radio: Amazon Prime, Ch. 11/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius
Line: 49ers by 3½ points
Rams: OUT: CB Cobie Durant (chest), TE Tyler Higbee (knee); QUESTIONABLE: LT Alaric Jackson (knee), DE Tyler Davis (calf), WR Jordan Whittington (shoulder), TE Davis Allen (shoulder), WR Demarcus Robinson (shoulder), C Beaux Limmer (knee).
49ers: OUT: G Ben Bartch (ankles), LT Trent Williams (ankle), S Malik Mustapha; QUESTIONABLE: DT Khalil Davis (knee), LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), RB Isaac Guerendo (foot), DE Nick Bosa (hip/oblique).
What’s at stake? Both teams remain in the thick of the NFC West race, but the Rams have a clearer path to the division crown and corresponding playoff berth with a one-game advantage over the 49ers. A win Thursday would give the Rams the tiebreaker over San Francisco and their first two-game sweep of their rivals since 2018.
Who’s better? Injuries have ravaged both rosters, but the Rams have mostly avoided the season-ending variety that have plagued the 49ers. That gives the Rams a slight edge even as San Francisco gets healthier with the returns of safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
Matchup to watch: Rams OLBs vs. Niners LT Jaylon Moore. Moore has been steady in Trent Williams’ absences this year, not allowing a sack in 97 pass-block snaps. But if the Rams can put pressure on the backup and subsequently on quarterback Brock Purdy, they can make the 49ers’ offense off-balanced.
Rams win if: They can hold tight end George Kittle to fewer than 60 yards receiving. … They limit themselves to four or fewer penalties. … WR Puka Nacua again tops 100 yards receiving.
Fantasy sleeper: 49ers RB Patrick Taylor. If Guerendo’s foot injury forces him to miss the game or even be limited, then Taylor would likely be in line for most of the extra running back reps for the 49ers.
Prediction: Rams 27, 49ers 21. Beat reporter’s record: 9-4 for the season; 8-5 against the spread.
