And the Rams manage to do the opposite
The 2024 NFL regular season is over. The Los Angeles Rams have won the NFC West crown, and the final standings have remained largely unchanged from Week 17 to Week 18.
That, of course, means the San Francisco 49ers are in last place. They will have the 11th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and a more extended offseason than they’ve had the last couple of years. Their loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday showed a team that was depleted of talent and not ready for a postseason appearance, even if one was granted this year.
As for first and second place?
Los Angeles Rams (10-7)/Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
The Rams locked up the NFC West last week, so backup quarterback (and former 49ers signal caller) Jimmy Garoppolo would be going under center this week against the Seattle Seahawks. Other Rams offensive starters were being rested as well.
And when the backup quarterback plus a good deal of the second string goes up against the starters of the other team, you might know what’s coming. Surprisingly, the Rams still had a chance to win it, backups and all. The Sandwks started with a 14-3 lead but couldn’t pull away from Garoppolo, who had the offense chasing the whole game.
The Rams managed to make it 17-13 at the half and came within a point of tying things at the three-minute mark in the third quarter. Seattle scored again to make it 24-16. The Rams scored a touchdown shortly thereafter but couldn’t get a successful two-point conversion.
Next thing you know, in the fourth quarter, a nice Garoppolo throw to Rams receiver Jordan Whittington setting up a field goal to give the Rams a 25-24 lead. That didn’t last as Geno Smith regained the lead on the next possession, nailing Noah Fant for a touchdown. 30-25. The Rams got to the Seahawks’ 10-yard line before turning over on downs with 16 seconds left.
Congrats to the Seahawks, I suppose. Nothing really moves the needle here as far as standings are concerned. While the Seahawks won, they won against the Rams’ backups, so take that for what it’s worth.
This game was a very Jimmy G game: 27 for 41, two touchdowns, one interception, and a 97.0 passer rating. Nothing great, nothing bad. Servicable.
Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
The Cardinals went up against what can be best described as the remnants of the 2024 San Francisco 49ers roster, and the remnants made a game out of it. Well, Until the fourth quarter, a quarter, the 49ers have surrendered points every game this season.
As you might expect, this fourth quarter was no different. Not because of the point statistic, but just because the 2024 49ers are not a fourth-quarter team. The fourth quarter had everything: Arizona putting things out of reach early, an interception, defensive miscues and a 47-24 final score. That’s two games in a row the 49ers have given up 40 points or over.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray achieved a passer rating above 120 three times this season. First was against the Los Angeles Rams where he had a perfect 158.3. Second was against the New York Jets for 126.7 (because the Jets at that point), and then a 128.5 rating against the 49ers’ defense. He went 25-35 (71.4 completion percentage), four touchdowns zero interceptions.
That’s not a good statistic any defense would want to see.
As for 49ers backup Joshua Dobbs, by comparison, he went 29 for 43 (67.4 percent), two touchdowns, two interceptions, and a crowd-pleasing 86.0 passer rating.
It’s over. This awful nightmarish season is over.
The Final Results
The 49ers have the 11th pick in the draft and the “last place” schedule for 2025. As you know, that’s in quotes because the last-place schedule is always good on paper.
Meanwhile, the Rams will face the Minnesota Vikings on Wild Card Weekend. The Rams beat the Vikings earlier on Thursday Night Football, so that should be a fun game to watch. The Seahawks and Cardinals will both watch the playoffs from home. The Seahawks finished with the same win total as the Rams, but 10 wins won’t cut it in today’s NFL.
Thanks for reading. See you next season.
WINNER: Los Angeles Rams; Next vs. Minnesota Vikings
2nd: Seattle Seahawks; Next: Eliminated
3rd: Arizona Cardinals; Next: Eliminated
4th: San Francisco 49ers; Next: Eliminated