The 3-1 San Francisco 49ers will face the 3-1 Los Angeles Rams for the first time this season, with first place in the NFC West on the line Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. But this game goes beyond the current standings.
The rivalry between these two teams dates back to October 1, 1950, when the Rams defeated the 49ers 35-14 in their first-ever meeting. Since then, the series has grown into one of the most storied rivalries in the NFL, marked by classic battles, playoff showdowns, and shifting eras of dominance.
For decades, the games between San Francisco and Los Angeles have carried far greater weight than a single win or loss; they've often determined playoff positioning, bragging rights, and the balance of power in the NFC West.
The 49ers-Rams rivalry may not get as much hype as some of the NFL's most historic matchups, but for over 70 years, these two teams have faced off 152 times, including two NFC Championship games in which the winner went on to capture the Super Bowl.
Throughout the years, even when neither the 49ers nor the Rams were chasing playoff spots, their matchups still delivered drama, intensity, and memorable finishes. In Week 10 of the 2012 season, the 3-5 Rams jumped out to a 14-0 lead on the 6-2 division-leading 49ers.
San Francisco suffered a major setback when quarterback Alex Smith exited in the second quarter with a concussion after throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree, forcing second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick into action. Kaepernick sparked a fourth-quarter rally, leading the 49ers back from a 17-7 deficit with rushing touchdowns from both himself and Frank Gore to give San Francisco a 21-17 advantage.
The Rams responded late, as Sam Bradford connected with Austin Pettis for a two-yard touchdown with just 1:09 remaining, reclaiming the lead at 24-21, but the 49ers forced overtime when kicker David Akers nailed a 33-yard field goal to tie the game.
After a scoreless extra period, the hard-fought division battle ended in a rare 24-24 tie.
Even in seasons when neither team was in the playoff hunt, the Rams and 49ers often produced memorable games. In 2010, the 4-4 Rams traveled to face the 2-6 49ers, and the matchup did not disappoint.
San Francisco struck first, taking a 7-3 lead in the opening quarter on a one-yard Frank Gore touchdown run. Early in the second quarter, kicker Joe Nedney added a 26-yard field goal to extend the advantage to 10-3. The Rams answered before halftime, as rookie quarterback Sam Bradford connected with Danny Amendola on a five-yard touchdown to tie the game at 10-10.
After the break, Steven Jackson gave St. Louis the lead with a 13-yard touchdown run, making it 17-10. Nedney cut into the deficit with a 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, pulling San Francisco within 17-13. With just over two minutes remaining, quarterback Troy Smith found Michael Crabtree for a 16-yard touchdown strike to give the 49ers a 20-17 lead. The Rams forced overtime when Josh Brown drilled a 33-yard field goal with three seconds left in regulation.
Nedney would seal the victory for San Francisco, hitting a 29-yard field goal to lift the 49ers to a 23-20 win.
One unforgettable meeting came in Week 8 of the 1995 season, known as the "Same Ol' Sorry @$$ Rams" game. The 49ers, missing league and Super Bowl MVP Steve Young, entered the game at 4-2, while the Rams were 5-1 and fresh off their recent relocation to St. Louis after 44 years in Los Angeles.
San Francisco dominated the game, crushing St. Louis 44-10. The 49ers defense picked off quarterback Chris Chandler four times, with middle linebacker Ken Norton Jr. returning two of those interceptions for touchdowns. Meanwhile, second-year quarterback Elvis Grbac made his first career start, throwing for 119 yards and two touchdown passes. By the end of the game, 49ers defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield and Tim Harris were on the sideline saying, "Same old Rams. Same old sorry ass Rams."
The Rams got their revenge on the 49ers by effectively ending the 49ers' dynasty with a commanding 42–20 victory in a Week 5 matchup during the 1999 NFL season. Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, who just months earlier had been stocking shelves at a grocery store, had taken over the starting job after Trent Green went down with a season-ending knee injury in the preseason. He would throw five touchdowns, and four of them went to wide receiver Isaac Bruce.
49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia, who took over the starting role after Steve Young suffered a career-ending concussion earlier in the season, struggled mightily against the surging Rams defense. Garcia threw three interceptions in the game, as the 49ers' offense failed to keep pace with the high-powered Rams' attack.
The loss not only dropped San Francisco to 2–3 on the season but also symbolized a changing of the guard in the NFC West, as the once-dominant 49ers began to fade while the Rams emerged as a powerhouse.
Even though the 49ers lead the series 78-71-3, Thursday's matchup continues that tradition, with both teams fighting not just for divisional control but also to prove themselves against a familiar foe that has defined their history.