Rams at 49ers: How to watch, odds, expert picks for massive NFC West matchup

The NFL’s Week 15 slate kicks off on Thursday night with an absolutely massive game in the NFC West. The Los Angeles Rams need a win to keep pace in the playoff race (both in the division and the Wild Card), while a 49ers win would bring them even with the Rams in the standings. The 49ers are a small home favorite.

How to watch Rams at 49ers

The Rams currently have the title of “team nobody wants to see in the playoffs,” given the way they have been playing in the second half of the season. They enter Thursday’s game having won six of their past eight games, including wins over Minnesota, Seattle and Buffalo.

Now that he has his top two wide receivers (Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp) back in the lineup, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has been rolling the past four weeks, throwing for 1,041 yards, 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions during that stretch.

He is going to get a big test against a 49ers defense that enters the week allowing just 182 passing yards per game, the third-lowest total in football. Their 6.6 yards allowed per pass attempt is tied for the second-lowest total in the league.

The 49ers, meanwhile, are still trying to get by with an offense that has been crushed by injuries at the skill positions. Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason are all on injured reserve, putting added pressure on quarterback Brock Purdy to take control of the offense. The results have been mixed this season for him.

Neither team has had much success against the spread this season. The 49ers enter Thursday’s game 5-8 against the spread (but 4-3 at home), while the Rams are 6-7 against the spread (and 3-3 on the road).