3 storylines for Rams and 49ers in Week 17

Week 17 arrives with the 11-4 Los Angeles Rams hosting their 2017 regular season finale against a hot Jimmy Garoppolo, and the San Francisco 49ers.

The Los Angeles Rams arrive at Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers in game number #16, as newly minted NFC West champions and curious Super Bowl contender. In a season that saw this team exceed any and all expectations, how they finish before heading into the playoffs will be worth watching.

With an 11-4 record, and the potential to flip last season from 4-12 to 12-4 this season, the idea being floated that this is a meaningless game with nothing to play for (Todd Gurley MVP, Sean McVay Coach of the Year, Aaron Donald Defensive Player of the Year) borders on the stupid.

Oh yes, and another win, seeing as they were in such scarce supply this last decade, means despite the idiots who say otherwise, Sunday has SOME meaning.

How much is worth discussing.

Momentum is worth noting, as is rhythm. Gurley is playing at another level, and keeling him going at such a torrid pace is worth him playing, as is the reachable shot at an MVP.

Jared Goff has been good. Not great, but good. He should absolutely still be playing on Sunday.

Special teams?

Greg Zuerlein is a huge loss, so anytime Sam Ficken can get some kicks in real time, game action only helps.

So yes, Week 17 is kind of a big deal.

Unless of course, you are taking everything that happened the past 16 Weeks for granted.

Even if you are NOT a Los Angeles Rams fan, it’s hard to ignore the MVP type season players and coaches on this team are having.

The three most talked about are the obvious:
-Running back Todd Gurley.
-Defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
-First year head coach Sean McVay.

These three, and certainly in their one unique but undeniable way, have aided in taking the Rams from laughable to contender in 12 months time.

McVay alone, and with all due respect to Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles or Mike Zimmer of the Minnesota Vikings should not just be the leading candidate but the winner hands down. What he inherited from Jeff Fisher was nothing short of a dysfunction times 100.

McVay turned that around, and despite whatever delusion Fisher allows himself to sleep better, is the guy who put the dumpster fire out and righted the ship.

As for Gurley, he’s on a remarkable run that has even a Tom Brady loving media wondering if the Patriots quarterback is only being given a lifetime achievement award, or is truly the better candidate than the Rams third year running back.

Gurley coming off of another monster performance, now leads the league in yards from scrimmage (2,093), total touchdowns (19), yards rushing (1,305), and rushing touchdowns (13).

He can add to that in Week 17 against a rising San Francisco team.

Say what you will about a “meaningless” Week 17 game with positioning out of your control, but losing a final home game, especially as there has been one less for the home fans these last two seasons, is something to consider. Finishing on a high note, especially against a 49ers team on a four-game roll with Jimmy Garoppolo playing really well, should be important enough for bragging rights.

Also, there is some irony in flipping the script in one season and posting the exact opposite record than the Los Angeles Rams did in 2016.

I mean, let’s not forget how bad last season ended at 4-12.

Fisher had been fired, Gurley had only been seen on the back of a milk carton, and the number #1 overall pick in the draft was beginning his professional career in Los Angeles at 0-7.

That’s bad.

They were also swept by the team they face in this weeks season finale, San Francisco.

ALSO, this Niners team almost, I say ALMOST beat them in Week 3 at Levi’s Stadium.

Sure, 11-5 would be a remarkable finish all things being equal. But to win the NFC West, dethrone Seattle in the process, and do a 180 record wise from a season ago is something that would cap a season no one, and I mean NO ONE saw coming.

Beating the Niners accomplishes that,

The remarkable turnaround for the Los Angeles Rams May be in the early stages of being duplicated up the coast in San Francisco.

Trade deadline acquisition Jimmy Garoppolo has helped lead the 49ers to a four game winning streak they’d like to continue Week 17 in LA.

It’s a powershift that will play out in real-time at the Coliseum to wrap up the 2017 season. For the Rams, who split with the Seahawks but completely took them apart in Week 15, beating the 49ers who almost beat them in Week 3, completes the circle from 2016, and sets the stage for next season.

Give San Francisco credit for pulling off a trade that solves their longtime quarterback issue. In Garoppolo, assuming he’s there next year, they have a guy who will have played five games under Kyle Shanahan, and earned a ton of respect from a locker room who had little to be excited about heading into 2017 at that position.

Next: Rams win in Tennessee is rich in irony

Win Goff and Jimmy G. headlining the 2018 season out west, and Seattle retooling but with a still dangerous Russell Wilson, the NFC West may be the best division in the NFL.

Meaning that Goff and the Los Angeles Rams may see a legitimate challenge to the top spot in the division for years to come.