Rams lock up second seed, beat 49ers 48-32

The Los Angeles Rams beat the San Francisco 49ers 48-32 and ensure a first round bye in the NFL playoffs.

The Los Angeles Rams left little doubt on Sunday afternoon, as they beat the San Francisco 49ers 48-32 at the Coliseum. The win ensures a second seed in the NFC, and gives them a bye week before strapping it on again in two weeks.

The Rams won a workmanlike game in Week 17 against a Niners team who coughed it up four times. San Francisco quarterback Nick Mullens threw three interceptions to go with his three touchdowns. The 49ers, who end the season 4-12, will look forward to 2019 and the return of Jimmy Garoppolo.

Los Angeles will enter the playoffs with an uneven December where they had both a two game losing streak and a two game winning streak. Rams quarterback Jared Goff looks to have righted the ship in the last two games of the season. Goff threw for 199 yards, completing 15 passes on 26 attempts for four touchdowns.

Running back C.J. Anderson had another big Sunday in his now two game Rams career. Anderson rushed for 132 yards on 23 carries adding a touchdown. Todd Gurley, who was inactive for the second straight week, will get an additional week of rest with the bye week.

The Rams are in the best position possible given their slump in December. Anderson has provided a huge boost for a team who looked stuck in the mud offensively. Gurley will have three weeks of rest heading into the postseason, and the extra week off will do key veterans a lot of good.

With the second seed locked up, it looks to be the Rams and the New Orleans Saints who are poised for a deep January run. With a healthy or healthier Gurley, Los Angeles will have an opportunity to regain the form they had prior to their bye week, and possibly set up a rematch with the Saints.