Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking the 49ers’ toughest 5 games of 2018

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates his touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Carlos Hyde #28 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates his touchdown against Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 24: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams communicates at the line of scrimmage during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 24: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams communicates at the line of scrimmage during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Week 17 @ Los Angeles Rams

Yep, the Rams appear on this list twice. The one thing making this particular contest even more difficult for the 49ers is the fact it takes place on the road.

Sure, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum will have no shortage of Southern California Niners fans in attendance. It did the last two years, after all. But it’s still a road game for San Francisco, so we should treat it as being more difficult.

We know the Rams are in win-now mode. And, as stated earlier, their offseason roster moves already justify a Super Bowl-or-bust effort this season. But the one thing keeping this particular matchup out of the top spot on this early look list is the possibility L.A. won’t have much to play for by Week 17.

Much like last year, the Rams may very well have clinched everything possible by the final week of the regular season. If that’s the case, expect head coach Sean McVay to rest his starters. Things then wouldn’t be so tough on the 49ers.

Yet if San Francisco and L.A. are playing for something, anything, during this contest, expect it to be arguably the toughest challenge on the Niners schedule.