Will Rams and 49ers be a two-horse race in 2018?

Week 17 may be a letdown for Los Angeles Rams and 49ers fans as head coach Sean McVay will likely be sitting key starters in the season finale. But don’t mistake that these two teams will be 1-2 in the NFC West in 2018, and beyond.

Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers have it going on in the Bay Area these days. Along with the Los Angeles Rams, both teams are a combined 7-1 in December, with LA being 3-1 and the Niners an impressive 4-0.

That’s right, since new 49ers quarterback Jimmy G. ascended to the top of the QB depth chart, San Francisco is unbeaten for the holidays and looking to go perfect in Los Angeles for Week 17.

Niners fans can only wonder “what if” Garoppolo had started sooner after being acquired at the NFL trade deadline back in October.

Indeed, “what if?”

While they are destined to finish last in the NFC West, they do it with a bullet, as they only ran out of games to pass a dead on arrival Arizona Cardinals team destined for a rebuild in 2018.

The Week 17 rematch against the Rams looks to be a bit anticlimactic, as Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay may look to rest some key starters, thus denying fans an early preview of two teams and two quarterbacks who will likely battle for the top spot in the division.

As it stands now with the Cardinals heading to the cellar, and the Seattle Seahawks needing to re-tool but still with a dangerous Russell Wilson, the Rams with Jared Goff and the Niners with Garoppolo could be “must see TV” for at least a few seasons to come.

Next: Seattle the last team Rams want to see in playoffs

As for this Sunday in the Coliseum, the Niners and Garoppolo May have much of the LA stage to themselves as some Rams sit.

A scenario fans won’t see repeated next season.