Sunday's NFC West divisional matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers is one of the few games this week without postseason implications.
With most playoff teams continuing to jostle for position and a first-round bye, the Rams are secured as either the NFC's third or fourth seed, and intend to rest starters in the regular-season finale.
Meanwhile, the 49ers remain near the bottom of the league standings despite a current four-game winning streak that's dropped them down the 2018 draft board.
Sunday's game will likely be the last between these two sides without consequence for a while. Rams vs. 49ers is sure to be must-see TV for years to come, as the matchup possesses all the key criteria to make it the next great NFL rivalry. Here's why:
Top quarterbacks
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
Quarterbacks Jared Goff and Jimmy Garoppolo have taken very different routes to their roles as starters for the Rams and 49ers, respectively. Drafted first overall in 2016 by the Rams, Goff initially underperformed while spending most of his rookie season on the bench.
He has blossomed in 2017, however, completing 62.1 percent of his pass attempts for 28 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a passer rating of 100.5.
Garoppolo spent more than three-and-a-half years awaiting his starting opportunity after being selected 62nd overall by the New England Patriots in 2014 and serving as Tom Brady's backup. Finally, a trade-deadline deal and an injury to 49ers rookie C.J. Beathard put Garoppolo in firm control of the offense, which he's led successfully during the winning streak. He should retain the role moving forward, so long as the 49ers keep the soon-to-be free agent at the conclusion of 2017.
At 23 and 26 years old, respectively, Goff and Garoppolo are set for long runs as the marketable faces of their teams, and this rivalry.
Team youth
(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)
At the beginning of the 2017 season, the Rams and 49ers ranked as the league's second- and 10th-youngest teams, respectively, per NFL Trade Rumors.
Meanwhile, head coaches Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan are two of the league's youngest at 31 and 38 years old, respectively, representing extensions of the team philosophies, and the second key to this budding rivalry.
While keeping young cores together in the NFL is exceptionally difficult due to injuries and developing contracts, general managers John Lynch of the 49ers and Les Snead of the Rams are in good positions to do just that.
While Snead is in his sixth year with the Rams, he turned a corner this past offseason with the firing of former head coach Jeff Fisher, and the hiring of Coach of the Year front-runner, McVay. He has successfully built the league's highest-scoring offense, with MVP candidate Todd Gurley and a trio of wide receiver additions in Robert Woods, Sammy Watkins, and Cooper Kupp.
Lynch, in his first season as an executive of any sort, has already joined a small, elite group of general managers who've won a trade with the Patriots. With his first choices of head coach and quarterback already secured, he's positioned himself extremely well heading into his second draft.
Frequent meetings
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
The Rams-49ers rivalry is set to take control of the NFC West.
Here's a look at the how the division has been won during the Seattle Seahawks' 14-year reign dating back to 2004.
| Team | Division Titles |
|---|---|
| Seahawks | 8 |
| Cardinals | 3 |
| 49ers | 2 |
| Rams | 1 |
While the Seahawks are still in contention for an NFC wild-card spot, the team has significant issues on the offensive line and at running back, and is currently without the services of defensive backs Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman,
The Arizona Cardinals will get star running back David Johnson back for the start of 2018, but the futures of quarterback Carson Palmer and head coach Bruce Arians are unknown, which could put the team in a state of purgatory for several seasons.
Still, without counting out the Seahawks or Cardinals in future years, the annual two games between the Rams and 49ers will go a long way toward deciding which team wins the division.
The two sides brought out the best in each other during a 41-39 Rams victory on Thursday night of Week 3, and that was with Brian Hoyer leading the 49ers. San Francisco's pivot to Garoppolo has set up a sustainable and intense rivalry heading into 2017's rematch, and seasons to come.
