Kyren Williams Says Rams Are 49ers' 'Big Brothers' After Season Series Sweep

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams reveled in his team's season sweep of the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night following a 12-6 victory at Levi's Stadium.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Williams said, "We're the big brothers now," in reference to the Rams' first season sweep of the Niners since 2018.

Most importantly, L.A. improved to 8-6 on the season with the win, bringing it within a half-game of the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks.

The 49ers hold a slight edge over the Rams in their all-time rivalry at 78-71-3, although most of the Rams' success came from the 1950s through the 1970s.

Since then, San Francisco is 59-32-1 against the Rams, which includes a one-sided 17-3 mark throughout the 1990s.

While the Niners swept the Rams during the 2020, 2021 and 2022 regular seasons, Los Angeles did beat San Francisco in the 2021 playoffs en route to winning the Super Bowl, and it has now taken three of the past four regular-season meetings between the teams.

In addition to the Rams creeping closer to the division lead, they kept the 49ers at the bottom with a 6-8 record, which also has them on the brink of falling out of playoff contention.

It seems likely that San Francisco will have to win out and finish 9-8 to have a shot at the playoffs, but even that may not be enough to keep the 49ers' three-year playoff streak intact.

Injuries have taken their toll on the 49ers this season, and they were without some key players again Thursday, including offensive tackle Trent Williams, running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason, and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who is out for the season.

Although the 49ers are perhaps on the brink of playoff elimination if they can't run the table against the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals, the Rams are getting hot at just the right time.

L.A. has overcome early-season injuries to wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, and won four of its past five games to go from under .500 to the thick of the playoff race.

The Rams' next two games are against teams with losing records in the New York Jets and Cardinals, meaning their Week 18 game against the Seahawks could be for the NFC West title.

Los Angeles has shown the past two weeks that it can win in myriad ways, hanging a ton of points on the Buffalo Bills in a 44-42 win last week, before battling it out in a defensive affair to beat the 49ers 12-6 this week.

With that kind of diversity and the talent they have on both sides of the ball, the Rams are looking like the team to beat in the NFC West.