The Rams and the 49ers turn to backup QBs Wentz and Darold in season finale

LOS ANGELES RAMS (9-7) at SAN FRANCISCO (12-4)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST, Fox

OPENING LINE: 49ers by 3, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Rams 8-6-2, 49ers 9-6-1.

SERIES RECORD: 49ers lead 78-68-3.

LAST MEETING: 49ers beat Rams 30-23 on Sept. 17, 2023, in Los Angeles.

LAST WEEK: Rams beat Giants 26-25; 49ers beat Commanders 27-10.

RAMS OFFENSE: OVERALL (7), RUSH (10), PASS (8), SCORING (8)

RAMS DEFENSE: OVERALL (19), RUSH (12), PASS (24), SCORING (19)

49ERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (2), RUSH (3), PASS (2), SCORING (3)

49ERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (7), RUSH (3), PASS (15), SCORING (2)

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Rams minus-4; 49ers plus-10.

RAMS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Carson Wentz. Los Angeles is giving starter Matthew Stafford the week off, clearing the way for Wentz to make his first start for the Rams. The former No. 2 overall pick by Philadelphia in 2016, has bounced around the league spending the previous three seasons with Washington (2022), Indianapolis (2021) and the Eagles (2020). He has thrown for 22,129 yards with 151 TDs in his career.

49ERS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Sam Darnold. With Brock Purdy getting the week off to rest, Darnold is set to make his first start for San Francisco. Darnold is 12 for 20 for 108 yards, one TD and one interception in brief action this season for San Francisco. The former No. 3 overall pick by the Jets in 2018 has a 78.1 career passer, the lowest among the 39 quarterback with at least 1,000 attempts since he entered the league.

KEY MATCHUP: Rams edge rusher Byron Young vs. 49ers tackle Colton McKivitz. Young has been impressive with seven sacks as a rookie and could provide a big challenge for McKivitz, who has struggled at times in pass protection for San Francisco.

KEY INJURIES: Along with Stafford, Los Angeles plans to rest DT Aaron Donald, RB Kyren Williams, WR Cooper Kupp and LB Ernest Jones. ... Los Angeles TE Tyler Higbee (dislocated shoulder) and swing tackle Joe Noteboom (plantar fascia) also will sit out. ... Niners coach Kyle Shanahan hasn't decided whether he will keep out any healthy players besides Purdy but San Francisco has several injured players who will likely get the week off: RB Christian McCaffrey (calf), DT Arik Armstead (foot), S Tashaun Gipson Sr. (quadriceps), S Ji’Ayir Brown (knee), OL Jon Feliciano (back), CB Ambry Thomas (hand) and TE Ross Dwelley (ankle).

SERIES NOTES: The 49ers have won nine straight regular-season meetings against the Rams, but lost to Los Angeles in the 2021 NFC title game. ... The Rams' most recent regular-season win in the series came in Week 17 of the 2018 season at home and their most recent road win against San Francisco came earlier that season.

STATS AND STUFF: The Rams clinched their third playoff berth in four seasons last week and will be either the sixth or seventh seed in the NFC. ... Los Angeles WR Puka Nacua has 101 catches for 1,445 yards this season. He needs four catches to break Jaylen Waddle's rookie record set in 2021 and 29 yards to break Bill Groman's record set in 1960. ... Nacua has seven games with at least 100 yards receiving, including 147 on 15 catches in Week 2 against San Francisco. ... NT Kobie Turner had 2 1/2 sacks last week and leads all rookies with nine this season. ... Los Angeles has scored on a league-best 98.1% of red zone drives, including 61.5% for TDs. ... The Rams have the third-fewest takeaways in the NFL with 14. ... Los Angeles has missed a league-worst 15 combined extra points and field goals this season — five more than any other team. The Rams waived Lucas Havrisik after he missed two PATs last week and brought back Brett Maher, who missed six FGs and one PAT in seven games earlier this season. ... The 49ers clinched the No. 1 seed for the 10th time in franchise history last week. ... San Francisco has won 12 straight games against NFC West opponents, tied for the longest streak ever in the division. ... TE George Kittle topped the 1,000-yard mark from scrimmage mark last week, joining teammates Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. San Francisco is the sixth team ever with four players with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage in the same season. ... Aiyuk has at least 100 yards receiving in his past four home games. ... Samuel needs 4 yards rushing to join Charley Taylor as the only players with at least 4,000 yards receiving and 1,000 yards rushing in his first five seasons. ... The Niners have scored 69 points on the opening drive. The only teams since at least 2000 to score more on the opening drive are the 2020 Packers (73 points) and the 2007 Patriots (71). ... San Francisco K Jake Moody is 58 for 58 on extra points this season for the longest streak of makes without a miss ever for a rookie.

FANTASY TIP: With McCaffrey out this week with a strained calf, Elijah Mitchell should get the bulk of the rushing load for San Francisco. Mitchell had 17 carries for 80 yards and a TD last week, showing off the form that helped him set a franchise rookie rushing record in 2021.

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