The San Francisco 49ers have reached the Super Bowl twice in the last five seasons, and even though they lost on both occasions there to the Kansas City Chiefs, many are picking them to win it all or at least get back to the big game this coming season.
They have, in the eyes of many, the NFL’s most talented team. Brock Purdy has simply been a huge revelation at quarterback, and they have a galaxy of stars other than him on both sides of the football.
The rest of the NFC West seems a bit lackluster, and it’s generally believed the 49ers will win the division for the third time in a row.
But the Los Angeles Rams rose from the ashes last season and made the playoffs, and CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell feels they could make San Francisco “sweat” this coming season.
He cited two new stars on offense and a strong year from quarterback Matthew Stafford as strong points offensively that could carry over to 2024.
“It appears Sean McVay has a cloning laboratory for high-level receiver play in the same way the Green Bay Packers have one for high-level quarterback play,” Podell wrote.
“With 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp missing five games because of injury last season, rookie fifth-round pick Puka Nacua put together the greatest rookie receiving season in NFL history: his 105 catches and 1,486 receiving yards were both the most ever by a rookie. When Nacua, Kupp, second-year running back Kyren Williams (1,144 rushing yards, third-most in the NFL, in 12 games played) and quarterback Matthew Stafford all played, Los Angeles averaged nearly 30 points per game (28.5), and Stafford threw 18 touchdowns to only three interceptions.”
But Podell seems to feel that L.A.’s defense is what will ultimately give it at least a puncher’s shot of supplanting the Niners as the best squad in the division.
“Defensively, they are overcoming the retirement of three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald through their 2024 draft class. General manager Les Snead used his first two draft picks in April on two All-ACC defensive players out of Florida State: edge rusher Jared Verse (19th overall pick ) and defensive tackle Braden Fiske (39th overall pick, second round). The Rams also poured a solid of amount of resources into their secondary through free agency, signing former Bills All-Pro cornerback Tre’Davious White (one year, $4.25 million), former Washington Commanders safety Kamren Curl (two years, $9 million) and former Rams and Jaguars cornerback Darious Williams (three years, $22.5 million).
“Provided everyone on the offense can stay healthy, the defense should be competent enough for Los Angeles to make the 49ers sweat.”
The Rams have somehow remained in contention
A year ago, the Rams looked like they were rusting over and in the process of dying after winning Super Bowl LVI in February 2022. But they have given themselves a blood transfusion by drafting well, something that seemed very unlikely during the championship season when they seemed to disregard draft capital by trading it for studs such as Stafford and linebacker Von Miller.
They won seven of their last eight games in 2023, and in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs against the NFC North champion Detroit Lions, they were one score away from winning and advancing to the Divisional Round. Had they gotten that far, they may have defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and set up an intriguing conference championship game matchup against the 49ers.
If the Rams’ young players on both sides of the football continue to grow and develop quickly, that Rams-49ers postseason battle may come to fruition not too long from now.
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