NFL Week 17 Predictions: 49ers vs. Rams, Plus TV Schedule, Live Stream and More

The San Francisco 49ers are looking to close their season on a high note and finish off the St. Louis Rams this week.

A win on Sunday will secure a first-round bye in the playoffs. As such a young team, that's something they'll need to prepare for their first postseason in nine years.

Keep reading to see if the Rams will provide any resistance to that goal and if they have any chance at an upset.

Where: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO

When: Sunday, Jan. 1, at 1:00 p.m. EDT

Watch: FOX

Listen: KNBR 1050 AM – San Francisco, WXOS 101.1 FM – St. Louis

Betting Line: San Francisco -10.5

What's At Stake?

The 49ers need a win here to hold on to the No. 2 seed in the NFC. A win will ensure a first-round bye and home-field advantage through the playoffs. That is, unless they run into the Green Bay Packers.

St. Louis has nothing left to play for—winning actually hurts their shot at the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Should they lose, and the Indianapolis Colts win, the Rams would lock up the top spot.

49ers Injury Report

LB Patrick Willis: QST (Hamstring)

WR/KR Tedd Ginn: QST (Ankle)

TE Delanie Walker: OUT (Jaw)

WR Braylon Edwards: OUT (Released)

Rams Injury Report

QB A.J. Feeley: QST (Thumb)

QB Sam Bradford: DBT (Ankle)

CB Justin King: OUT (Shoulder)

Fantasy Start 'Em, Sit 'Em and Sleeper

Start ‘Em: Frank Gore.

St. Louis gives up 154.5 yards per game to opposing rushers—more than any other team in the league.

Frank Gore will feast upon this easy matchup and guide you to fantasy victory (if you are, for some reason, still playing in Week 17).

Sit ‘Em: Any Rams player.

The Rams are terrible and are going against a top defense that has the motivation to win and earn a much-deserved bye week.

Sleeper: Michael Crabtree.

If for some reason the 49ers fall behind, Crabtree will be a top option in the passing game to get them caught up.

What They're Saying

Eric Branch of The San Francisco Chronicle found that, while eight 49ers were selected for the Pro Bowl, none of them are hoping to make the trip to Hawaii.

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"Hopefully, we won't be there," punter Andy Lee said. "Hopefully we'll be at the Super Bowl."

A trip to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis on Feb. 5, of course, is the 49ers' ultimate goal, and the fact that they have eight Pro Bowlers this season is a reminder that they have a realistic chance of reaching the NFL's biggest game.

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Speaking of the Pro Bowl, Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted that zero Rams made the roster—although three were deserving of a nod.

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As was the case with defensive end Chris Long, the Rams' two other deserving players—running back Steven Jackson and middle linebacker James Laurinaitis—did not receive Pro Bowl berths.

 

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49ers Player to Watch: Frank Gore

Gore has the easiest matchup in the NFL on paper and will look to exploit it on the field to earn his team a bye.

Should the Niners slip up and lose here, they would have to play in the Wild Card Weekend, a very dangerous round where teams have a tendency to catch fire and favorites get burned.

Rams Player to Watch: Steven Jackson

If the Rams have any chance of an upset, Jackson is going to have to play angry and get upset about his Pro Bowl snub.

An insane performance from the star RB is St. Louis’ only chance of winning.

Prediction: 49ers 21, Rams 3