NFL just turned the latest Kyle Shanahan-Sean McVay chapter into pure cinema

You might suspect that the Los Angeles Rams would be the talk of the NFC Western Division in 2025. But the NFL schedulers, and many NFL analysts, remain convinced that the San Francisco 49ers are the cream of the division. The Rams played to their second 10-7 record and won the NFC West Division in 2024. The 49ers played to a 6-11 record, finished dead last in the division, and had a forgettable offseason when the team was forced to part ways with many vital veteran players via free agency.

But think nothing of it, many analysts recommend. Don't let the reality of a team in the midst of a soft reboot derail lofty goals and expectations. Just like the Dallas Cowboys (7-10) somehow landing six Prime Time games, the 49ers (6-11) landed five Prime Time games.

The NFC West Division-winning Rams are only slated for four Prime Time games, and two of those games can be flexed to more competitive contests late in the season. But one game stands out. The Los Angeles Rams host their rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, on Thursday Night Football in Week 5. And that game is ideally situated for some great football on the field.

It's been a streaky rivalry

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers have been a solid NFL rivalry for many years. The 49ers are much like the Cowboys in their success in Super Bowl competition. But they have not hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in quite some time. The Rams won many games but never seemed to have the right players to win a Super Bowl until Sean McVay was hired as the team's head coach in 2017. Since that time, the Rams have won Super Bowl LVI.

The 49ers have yet to win one.

As it now stands, the Rams hold a three-game winning streak over the 49ers. Before that, the 49ers held a winning streak over the Rams. But since the 49ers parted ways with QB Jimmy Garoppolo, they simply have not had that same lucky bounce of the football. The 49ers allowed Garoppolo to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders before the 2023 NFL season. They won their first game against the Rams in Week 2 of that season.

And haven't won since.

This is a made-for-Prime Time matchup. It's the hype of the 49ers against the grounded success of the Rams. It's the clash of two of the NFL's best coaches in Kyle Shanahan facing off against his friend Sean McVay. And it's the clash of Brock Purdy against savvy veteran Matthew Stafford. The 49ers aim to get back to the top of the NFC West Division.

But the Los Angeles Rams have their sights on getting one more Super Bowl win for Matthew Stafford. And it's going to be some tough sledding for the Rams in 2025, as they have another brutal start to the season:

Regular Season Games

So what does the Rams schedule look like? Let's take one more glance at the Rams first five games:

• Week 1 - Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams
• Week 2 - Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans
• Week 3 - Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
• Week 4 - Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams
• Week 5 - San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (TNF)

In their first five games scheduled, the Rams will face both the Houston Texans (10-7) and Philadelphia Eagles (14-3), both division winners from 2024. Thankfully, the Rams have a chance to regroup by facing the Tennessee Titans (3-14) and Indianapolis Colts (8-9) as well. Best of all, the Rams' short week of Thursday Night Football is at SoFI Stadium. That forces the 49ers to travel on a short week.

The San Francisco 49ers' 2025 schedule's first five games are loaded with rivals. Their first five games include:

• Week 1 - San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
• Week 2 - San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints
• Week 3 - Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
• Week 4 - Jacksonville Jaguars at San Francisco 49ers
• Week 5 - San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams (TNF)

Much like the Rams, the 49ers get tough games against the Seattle Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals, separated by weaker teams. The 49ers travel to face the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, while hosting the rebuilding Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4.

Both the Rams and Seahawks were 4-2 in the NFC West Division in 2024. The 49ers could only muster one win in six chances last season. That lone victory came at the expense of the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6.

Stafford's revenge

While the Rams swept the 49ers in 2024, it was not known until after the game that Rams veteran starting quarterback Matthew Stafford had suffered a rib injury in that Week 15 showdown. The Rams were only able to lock down a playoff seeding with tremendous effort on the defensive side of the football. Including their Week 15 victory over the 49ers, Matthew Stafford's offense was only able to score 12, 19, and 13 points, respectively.

Thankfully, the Rams defense only allowed 6, 9, and 9 points respectively.

After sitting out in Week 18, the Rams offense did manage to reclaim some productivity, scoring 29 and 22 points in the postseason. But you can bet that the Rams will aim at scoring a ton of points against the returned DC Robert Saleh's defensive sequel with the 49ers.

The Rams no longer boast Cooper Kupp. But this team has savvy veteran Davante Adams in his place. And he is joined by returning sensation, Puka Nacua. While some may scoff at the postseason implications of a Week 5 game, the Rams only have two shots and downing the 49ers, and only one opportunity of doing so at home.

It's a long 17-game season, but it remains a game of inches. Hopefully, the Rams can extend their winning streak over the 49ers to five games in 2025. What better way to embarrass so many NFL analysts who have the San Francisco 49ers projected to win the NFC Western Division?

The Rams have the chance to foil the 49ers once more.

As always, thanks for reading.

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