This is make-or-break time for the San Francisco 49ers. Their playoff lives are on the line in Week 18 against a familiar foe: the Los Angeles Rams. Win, and they get the final wild-card spot in the NFC. Lose, and they're at risk to missing out the post-season.

In light of this, the question of who's starting at QB1 has been circling over San Francisco this week. A few hours before the fated 49ers vs. Rams matchup, Adam Schefter sheds a little clarity on who the team feels should start.

49ers' long-time quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been nursing a thumb injury he sustained in Week 16. That injury caused him to miss their Week 17 tilt against the Houston Texans, placing rookie Trey Lance into the spotlight. Though Lance performed well enough to keep the team alive, Kyle Shanahan and the coaching staff feels the right move is to start the veteran Garoppolo.

Whether Garoppolo is better than Lance remains to be seen. In Jimmy G's last game for the 49ers, he threw two brutal interceptions that led to a loss to the Titans, losing key positioning in the playoff race. They will need Garoppolo to be immaculate against a Rams team loaded with talent.

The 49ers have a winning record against the Rams in the last three years, owning an immaculate 5 – 0 record in that span. To secure their playoff slot, they'll need to channel that same energy again, regardless of who's starting under center. Whether it's Garoppolo or Lance, the goal's the same: destroy Los Angeles.