Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice joined 95.7 The Game on Monday morning, as he does each week during the season, and discussed the upcoming matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams still have their Monday-night game to play, and the Niners are coming off a bye week. The two NFC West rivals will clash on Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
"They have to look at that game — and I'm calling it right now — that game is a playoff game, guys," Rice told the hosts of The Morning Roast. "That's the way the Niners gotta look at that game coming up."
Rice believes the bye week may do the 49ers some good, allowing head coach Kyle Shanahan to work on certain tendencies and techniques to improve at several position groups. If that happens, perhaps the 49ers can go on a run during these final six games of the season and sneak into the playoffs.
"Just fundamental things," Rice added. "I'm sure they really worked on a lot of stuff this week."
As for the 49ers-Rams rivalry itself, Rice knows a thing or two about that, having played in the division for most of his illustrious career. What does the matchup mean to him?
"That was everything to me," Rice admits. "It was times to show up because you're going against a rival. … It makes the hair just stand up on my back just a little bit because I get excited about that rivalry. I'm sure with the Niners, they had to go in, and they had to make a lot of changes (during the bye week).
"I think the most important thing for Kyle Shanahan right now is to get that running game going. He has to get that going, and the efficiency of the offensive line. They've got to get going.
"Then, when you think about Nick Mullens, they have to put him in a position where he can win. … [Shanahan has] got to build confidence in Nick Mullens.
"But this is a rival. It's time to go right now. And if you don't make a stand right now, it's pretty much over."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Rice below.