The Los Angeles Rams made several personnel moves, such as trading for Matthew Stafford and Von Miller, for the sole purpose of winning a championship. Now they’re one win away from playing in Super Bowl LVI. As they face their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, it’s safe to say football betting will generate plenty of interest.
The Rams haven’t beaten the 49ers in their last six tries. Here’s a closer look to see if they can get over the hump and play host for one more game.
49ers at Rams (-3.5)
Before we get started, here are the details you need to know about this game.
- Date: Sunday, January 30, 2022
- Time: 6:30 P.M. EST
- Venue: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CA
Rams vs. 49ers
Recent history has not been kind to the Rams when facing the 49ers. Los Angeles had a chance to eliminate their division foe from the NFL playoffs in Week 18. But an overtime field goal gave San Francisco new life, and now they’re meeting in the NFC Championship game.
The Rams were held to 265 yards while the 49ers racked up 449 yards on offense. Matthew Stafford was 21-32 for 238 yards, three TDs, and two INTs. He also took five sacks.
The Rams took a 17-3 lead into halftime at that game, but then the 49ers scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter. Los Angeles took the lead back, but a late touchdown from San Francisco sent the game to overtime, where they eventually won the game.
Los Angeles Rams in the Playoffs
The Rams had a similar scenario to Week 18 when they met the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional round. The Rams were coming off a big win after beating an unprepared Arizona Cardinals 34-11 in the Wild Card round.
Los Angeles jumped out to a 27-3 lead against the Buccaneers. When Cooper Kupp caught a short pass and committed his first fumble of the season, the game changed. Following a score by Tampa Bay, the Rams’ offense struggled to move the chains. Matt Gay missed a field goal, and Tom Brady was on the march again.
Gay redeemed himself with a game-winning field goal as time ran out. But, the team that looked in control scrambled to stay afloat until the end. If this happens against San Francisco again, the Rams could find themselves watching the Super Bowl from home.
Can the Rams Win the NFC Championship?
The Los Angeles Rams kept adding key elements to their roster during the season. Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr. have both had significant impacts. The team also has the best receiver in the NFL. Cooper Kupp was the leading receiver in the NFL with 145 catches, 1947 yards, and 16 TDs.
The Rams allow the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game (98.2) and are third in sacks and interceptions.
Los Angeles cannot afford to let their foot off the gas if they take the lead against San Francisco. Their lack of production after taking a 17-3 lead on the 49ers in Week 18 allowed San Francisco to get into the playoffs; their lack of production after taking a 27-3 lead last week almost ended the Rams season.
Los Angeles will also need to limit San Francisco to field goals. The 49ers rank fifth in the NFL at scoring touchdowns in the red zone (63.79%). The Rams are eighth in red-zone defense (touchdown scored on 53.33% of opponents’ possessions). I believe that this will be a low-scoring battle that comes down to whether Los Angeles can limit the 49ers in these situations.
Game Prediction
I believe that the Los Angeles Rams will need to limit San Francisco in the red zone and eliminate the mistakes that allowed the Buccaneers to climb back into their game last week to win the NFC Championship. I like the 49ers to cover the spread, and I’m taking San Francisco to advance to Super Bowl LVI.
Do you have a different view of the NFC Championship game? Create your account today at BetMGM’s sports betting site, and you could receive a risk-free initial bet of up to $1,000.
Build NFL Parlays at BetMGM
At the best online sportsbook, you can build NFL parlays throughout the season. Increase the excitement and potential payouts by combining spreads, moneylines, and more into parlays at the BetMGM sportsbook.
