3 predictions for Rams and Niners in Week 17

Anyway you slice it, the Los Angeles Rams aren’t looking to win in Week 17. Say what you want, call it what you want, but when you sit key players from your starting lineup against a regular season opponent, know that winning isn’t your top priority.

But that’s ok, right?

Not really, but super fan isn’t concerned with that, and neither is Sean McVay.

Again, that’s ok, just don’t say winning is.

With the playoffs pretty much slotted, McVay made the command decision to give players a day off. It’s his prerogative, and he knows the upside and downside of such a decision. Which means if he loses, he’ll be questioned, and if he wins, he’ll be commended.

So, it’s a toss-up. Which means he’s playing the statistics that in the playoffs the better team wins, and in the first playoff game the Rams will play, they’ll be the better team.

In Week 17, the Rams will deploy a team NOT better than the competition. McVay knows this, and no press-room spin will convince watchers otherwise.

Which means the 49ers will have an obvious advantage, and likely a five game winning streak to end their 2017 campaign.

It’ll also mean the last impression of the NFC West will be one where Jimmy Garoppolo gets a win, and Jared Goff will not.