Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams, left, runs toward the end zone past a San Francisco … [+] 49ers linebacker. The Rams meet the 49ers again on Thursday Night Football, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Associated Press
Another key Thursday Night Football game kicks off Week 15 action. The NFC West division duel is the second meeting of the season between the Los Angeles Rams (7-6) and San Francisco 49ers (6-7). Those two teams are chasing the division leader Seattle Seahawks (8-5) with four games remaining in the regular season.
All NFC teams are chasing the Detroit Lions (12-1), who beat the Green Bay Packers last Thursday night in one of the most watched, wagered and entertaining games of the season as the Lions won 34-31 on a last-second field goal.
The NFL wants key matchups in prime time, even if it’s at the expense of a short week and players health and recovery. Ratings rule, money talks and more players will get injured. The Lions had 12 players sidelined in their defensive front sevent ahead of last Thursday’s big win over the Packers. But that contest averaged 17.29 million viewers, making it the most-streamed NFL regular-season game in history and Amazon Prime Video’s most-watched game since exclusively taking over the prime-time package in 2022.
The NFL standings show some separation at the top of the NFC. The Rams are the only team in the league who has a winning record but has scored fewer points (298) than they have allowed (332). The 49ers have both scored and allowed 308 points this season while traveling more miles and playing more teams with a rest advantage than any other team in the league.
Thursday Night Football Odds
Pro football odds from FanDuel Sportsbook and top online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Bet types, odds and betting terms with listed point spreads on favorites.
Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers (-3), Over/Under 49.5 points
Kickoff is at 8:15pm ET and streamed on Amazon Prime Video, and also NFL+.
NFC West – Remaining schedules
- Seahawks (8-5): Packers, Vikings, at Bears, at Rams
- Rams: (7-6): at 49ers, at Jets, Cardinals, Seahawks
- 49ers (6-7): Rams, at Dolphins, Lions, at Cardinals
- Cardinals (6-7): Patriots, at Panthers, at Rams, 49ers
Rams-49ers Matchups, Stats And Props
The 49ers buried the Bears 38-13 last Sunday in perhaps their best performance of the season with a 452-162 yards edge. Now they face a must win game to stay in the division and playoff chase against a Rams team who beat the Niners 27-24 in Week 3, scoring 13 unanswered points in the final 7 minutes. The 49ers out-gained the Rams in that game by 124 yards, but Los Angeles played without both top receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. The 49ers rank No. 2 in the NFL in yards per play margin (+1.3), and have a +1.6 yppl edge over the Rams.
The Rams slightly out-gained the Bills in a 44-42 shootout win last Sunday, but allowed Buffalo to gain 442 yards at a week-high 8.2 yards per play. The Niners running game is expected to roll over a Rams run defense that ranks in the bottom-5 of the NFL and has been even worse over their last three contests allowing 186 rushing yards per game. The Rams have quietly won six of their last eight games following a 1-4 start, but were out-gained in four of those six wins. Los Angeles is also 0-3 SU/ATS as a road underdog this season. The Rams defense is allowing 225 passing yards per game to rank No. 24 in the league, and 31st in net yards per pass attempt (6.9). They have allowed the second-highest yards per attempt to opposing quarterbacks and given up the fourth-worst EPA per dropback this season.
San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy is a popular bet to go over his passing yards total, and Deebo Samuel may be targeted more after taking to X to express his frustration for lack of touches and passes thrown his way. San Francisco has 30 more plays with 20-plus yards gained than its opponents, the best differential in the league. The Rams are a prime target to take advantage again as Los Angeles has allowed 29.1% of the passing plays against them to gain 10 or more yards (30th) and 11.1% to gain 20 or more yards (29th).
Finally, the Playbook Sports newsletter notes that NFL teams coming off a win in which they scored and allowed 40 or more points in their last game (Rams) are 12-22 ATS, including 0-8 SU and 1-7 ATS when facing an opponent coming off a win.
The Rams are currently 55/1 to win Super Bowl LIX and the 49ers 100/1. The Thursday Night Football winners odds will shorten. The Rams odds to make the playoffs are 35% and 49ers 11% ahead of their Week 15 game Thursday night, according to ESPN’s playoff picture and odds.
Rams-49ers Player Props
- LA QB Matthew Stafford passing yards: Over/Under 244.5
- SF QB Brock Purdy passing yards: O/U 258.5, rushing 21.5
- LA RB Kyren Williams: O/U 72.5, receiving 9.5
- LA WR Puca Nacua receiving yards: O/U 88.5
- LA WR Cooper Kupp receiving yards: O/U 62.5
- SF WR Jauan Jennings receiving yards: O/U 68.5
- SF TE George Kittle receiving yards: O/U 59.5
- SF WR Deebo Samuel receiving yards: O/U 49.5
The player prop picks posted on these NFL betting preview pages at Forbes have been scoring and cashing in Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 12, Week 13 and Week 14.
The Week 14 Thursday Night Football feature produced more winning bets on the Packers (+3.5) and over the game total in the Lions 34-31 win. Another player prop bet winner on Packers WR Christian Watson over 3.5 receptions
Picks: 49ers -3, and Player Prop Deebo Samuel over 49.5 receiving yards.
More sports betting news, stats, player props and information you can bet on as the NFL draws more watch and wager action with player props driving additional engagement, entertainment and interest.
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