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In Week 18, with their playoff position secure, the 49ers had little to gain and opted to rest key players. Head coach Kyle Shanahan decided to keep starting quarterback Brock Purdy on the sidelines, while other starters saw limited playing time.
The Los Angeles Rams emerged with a 21-20 victory at Levi's Stadium, finally ending a nine-game regular-season losing streak to their NFC West rivals. Depending on the outcomes of this weekend's games, a potential rematch between the two teams looms in the Divisional Playoff round.
Commenting on the loss to the rival Rams and his friend, coach Sean McVay, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said, "It's annoying to lose to everybody. It's a little bit more when it's your rivals or when it's someone in your division. It's always a little bit more when you know people, but it's not just him (McVay). There's a bunch of people on the staff I know, so they all annoy me."
What do national media outlets think about the Niners' roster compared to the rest of the league as teams gear up for the playoffs? Below are samples from some of the more prominent power rankings around the web and where San Francisco currently stands within each. As always, the highest rankings are listed first.
Current Ranking: 1
Previous Rank: 2
"The 49ers should be considered the team to beat despite their bad loss to the Ravens. They also have less daunting challengers in their own conference than the Ravens, making their path to get to Las Vegas a little easier. Brock Purdy having key playoff experience helps, and they might already have a Lombardi Trophy with him minus that devastating QB situation in last year's NFC title game. Kyle Shanahan's loaded team has knocked on the door and looks ready to finally break it down." — Vinnie Iyer
The Athletic
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Rank: 2
"Like the Ravens, the 49ers basically gave their stars a bye week on Sunday. Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle did not play because they already had locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC. And like Baltimore, San Francisco lost on Sunday. No matter, this is still the clear favorite in the NFC. The 49ers beat the Cowboys and Eagles by a combined 84-29. The only NFC playoff team that beat the 49ers this season was the Rams on Sunday, and that hardly counts." — Josh Kendall
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Rank: 2
"Sunday's loss to the Rams meant nothing to the San Francisco 49ers, as the NFC's No. 1 seed was already sewn up. But now it gets real. These 49ers aren't just looking to make an appearance in the postseason or win a game. There's only one goal: Winning Super Bowl LVIII. ... The 49ers are loaded on offense, rank third in scoring defense and are the odds-on favorite to win the Super Bowl next month." — NFL Staff
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Rank: 2
"They get a bye as the NFC's best team and clearly have the look of a Super Bowl team. They will be tough to beat at home." — Pete Prisco
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Rank: 2
"It was a Sam Darnold game on Sunday, as Brock Purdy got some much-needed rest, with the NFC West title and No. 1 playoff seed all sewn up. Darnold looked pretty good, just as he did when relieving Purdy in the Week 16 loss to the Ravens, so the 49ers have to feel much better about their QB2 situation heading into the postseason than they did one year ago at this time. (We know how that run ended.) It was also good to see Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason turn in solid games against the Rams, building on their positive late-season showings. The 49ers know they must protect their best commodities, and Christian McCaffrey is going to be leaned on heavily in the playoffs, however long their stay is. As with Darnold and the QB position, Mitchell and Mason showed they could provide enough insurance at running back, even if neither can replicate what CMC does." — Eric Edholm
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Rank: 2
"Can anyone in the NFC beat them in Santa Clara?" — Mike Florio
The Ringer
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Rank: 2
"The 49ers have defeated every NFC playoff team they've faced before Week 18, and before resting most of their starters in the season finale against the Rams, they ranked first in offensive expected points added per drive and 12th in defensive EPA per drive. This team simply slaps." — Riley McAtee
Yahoo! Sports
Current Ranking: 2
Previous Rank: 2
"With the Cowboys getting the No. 2 seed, the 49ers can't face them in the divisional round. Would you pick the Lions, Buccaneers, Eagles, Rams or Packers over a rested 49ers team in a playoff game at San Francisco? Me either." — Frank Schwab
