Fans won't like this hard reality when Rams host 49ers on Thursday night

Yes, the Los Angeles Rams have another huge test on Thursday Night Football, as they host their NFC West rivals, the San Francisco 49ers. While there are reasons to be optimistic in this bi-annual clash of NFL titans, it's impossible to enter this one overly confident. These two teams have a history of being heated rivals.

And that means throw everything that you know out the window.

The SF-vs-LA disdain is no manufactured rivalry to sell stadium tickets and NFL merchandise. While Rams head coach Sean McVay remains good friends with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, even their friendship is pushed to the limit when they square off twice per season.

And when one team limps into the showdown, it seems to come off the ropes and find some way to turn its season around.

Just check out these two teams' recent history following a Niners loss:

It's not as though Los Angeles takes San Francisco too lightly. It's simply the way rivalries play out. Underdogs seize the opportunity to engage a bitter rival to earn respect. And losses the week before facing off can sometimes simply be the case of a too-eager team looking past another team to focus on the upcoming rivalry showdown prematurely.

Fans won't like hard reality of 49ers-Rams showdown

It's too easy to get swept up in the moment. LA just emerged from a huge come-from-behind victory over the Indianapolis Colts that needed one of the zaniest plays of this century to pull off. And yet, even with that level of success, the two teams clashing on Thursday night meet with similar 3-1 records.

Similar, but not identical. Los Angeles has three wins over AFC South teams and one loss to an NFC team. San Francisco has three wins over NFC teams and one loss to an AFC South team. In terms of future NFL playoff tiebreakers, the Niners hold all the cards, especially with two division wins already in the books. If they add a win over LA in Week 5, their lead will be huge.

Even as the San Francisco struggles with injuries, it understands that getting past Week 5, win or lose, opens a 10-day mini-bye to rest and heal up. So, on those players whose availability is poised on a coin toss, it's more likely that they will suit up and play rather than sit this one out. While the same goes for both teams, it's the Niners roster that is the more banged-up.

But how much of that will be true at the kickoff? With so many Red and Gold players struggling with minor injuries on a short week, that's a tough call. But overconfidence is certainly something to corral.

The NFC West title may hinge on the outcome of Week 5. That's not dramatizing anything. It's simply the reality of two teams with far different schedules.

The Horns need a win this week. As always, thanks for reading.

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