49ers news: Kyle Shanahan talks Jake Moody, Sam Darnold, preparation for NFL playoffs

The 49ers were pretty much in NFL playoff mode entering their regular-season finale against the Rams on Sunday.

In many ways, Week 18's game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams felt a lot like a preseason game.

The NFC West bout saw plenty of starters rest, other starters pulled after a few series and a bunch of backups going at it after halftime. And considering both teams already locked up their respective spots in the conference playoff seeding, there wasn't a lot on the line for either squad in terms of winning or losing.

LA won 21-20, however, breaking a regular-season losing streak that dates back to 2018.

Despite the relatively uninteresting feel of the game, there were some provocative takeaways. For the most part, both teams escaped the bout injury-free, although the Niners had a major scare with reserve defensive end Clelin Ferrell being removed from the sideline on a cart. He avoided serious injury, though, which is what head coach Kyle Shanahan felt his No. 1 priority would be in a relatively meaningless contest.

Rookie kicker Jake Moody, however, couldn't avoid some notable embarrassment.

Jake Moody misses 2 kicks, Kyle Shanahan isn't concerned

Fans immediately had flashbacks to Week 6 at the Cleveland Browns when Moody suddenly couldn't find his footing and missed two field-goal tries, including what would have been a game-winner.

First, the third-round NFL Draft pick missed a 38-yard try, and then he missed his first extra-point attempt of the season.

Rough day. And, looking at the final score, either one of those going through would have made a massive difference in the game's outcome. Pair that with the playoffs just around the corner, and it's understandable why fans would be worried.

Not Shanahan, though.

"It's never good when you miss them," Shanahan said of Moody's kicks. "Especially having two like that and the extra point. I think it was his first one inside the 40, maybe all year. He's had a hell of a year. He has done a hell of a job up to this point and just had a rough day today."

When asked if the Niners would bring in some kicking competition or insurance between now and their next game in the divisional round in two weeks, Shanahan's response was to the point.

"We're good with Jake," the head coach responded.

Entering Week 18, Moody had made 58 of his extra-point attempts and tacked on two more before his first miss of the year in that category, and he also had a 21-of-24 mark before going 0-of-1 on field-goal tries against Los Angeles.