San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams: Live score updates, play-by-play, analysis of NFC title game
By Sunday night, the matchup for Super Bowl 56 will be set.
After the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs clashed in the AFC championship game, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are set to meet for the NFC crown. The NFC West rivals both surprised many by making it this far, as the Rams were the No. 4 seed and needed to unseat Tom Brady and the defending-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers to make it this far, while the 49ers toppled the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round before stunning the top-seeded Green Bay Packers last weekend.
While the Rams are favored, the 49ers have won the last six meetings, sparking questions on whether Sean McVay can beat out close friend Kyle Shanahan.
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USA TODAY Sports will have live updates, analysis and more from our NFL reporters and editors, including Mike Jones on the scene in Los Angeles. Check back often for more:
The Cincinnati Bengals put on a thrilling show in rallying from 18 points down to beat the two-time defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and book their first Super Bowl trip in 33 years.Read more here about the 49ers’ takeover.
– Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Sean McVay’s crew made quick work of the struggling Arizona Cardinals in the wild-card round. Then, the Rams endured a comeback push by Tom Brady to eliminate the defending-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And with the rest of the NFC’s division winners vanquished, Los Angeles got the rare opportunity to host the title game before potentially playing in a home Super Bowl.
– Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
their triumph against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Capitalizing on Green Bay’s special teams meltdown, the 49ers managed to surprise everyone … except themselves.
– Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
The $5 billion stadium is flush with amenities. But Sunday might not feel like a home game for the Rams.
Coach Sean McVay implored fans not to sell their tickets, and 49ers fans are looking to turn the stadium into “Levi’s South.”
– Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz