The NFC West-champion Los Angeles Rams are locked into hosting an NFC wild-card playoff game.
The Rams (11-4) will be either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed in the playoffs, which means their next meaningful game will be the weekend after their New Year’s Eve regular-season finale against the 49ers.
Coach Sean McVay intimated that some of his top players will not suit up Sunday when the 49ers come to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in hopes of finishing Kyle Shanahan's first season on a five-game win streak.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
“Being locked into that 3rd or 4th seed — every single game is important — but I think it will provide an opportunity for us to potentially get some guys healthier, rest them, give some other guys a chance to step up,” McVay said via the Rams’ official website.
“It is one of those deals where I think you might see us rest some guys and use this week where, you don’t ever take anything for granted, but knowing that you do have a home playoff game regardless of how things play out, this might provide an opportunity for us to get some guys healthy.”
Quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley are among the top players on the Rams who could sit out the game. The Rams are obligated to suit up 46 players from their 53-man roster.
Such players as linebackers Mark Barron and Alec Ogletree, along with left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center John Sullivan, could also be held out of the game against the 49ers.
San Francisco 49ers
“That’s a luxury that we want to take advantage of," McVay said. “And everything that we do is what we think is best for our football team.”