Rams' win over 49ers propels them closer to top of NFC West - ESPN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams' 12-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night propelled them closer to the top of the NFC West and a playoff spot.

The Rams entered the game with a 35% chance to make the playoffs and a 32% chance to win the division, according to ESPN Analytics. Those figures went up significantly after the victory: The Rams' playoff chances now sit at 52% and winning the division at 49% entering the weekend.

And perhaps most importantly, the Rams continue to control their destiny with three games left. The Rams end their season at the New York Jets and home to the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals.

The Rams have made the playoffs in five of the previous seven seasons under head coach Sean McVay, including a trip to Super Bowl LIII and a victory in Super Bowl LVI.

At 8-6, the Rams now sit half a game back of the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks.

But if the Rams are to make a playoff run, it will require some consistency from their offense, an area that has been a struggle.

Just four days after scoring a season-high 44 points against the Buffalo Bills — a team that had already clinched its division — Los Angeles struggled to move the ball on a rainy night.

In the first half, the Rams had 89 yards of offense, which is a season low. They picked it up in the second half, finishing with 302 yards in the victory.

QB breakdown: Quarterback Matthew Stafford entered Thursday having four straight games with multiple passing touchdowns and no interceptions, which is tied for the longest active streak in the NFL and is tied for the longest streak of his career. He did not continue that streak Thursday, completing 16 of 27 passes for 160 yards in a game with no touchdowns on either