The San Francisco 49ers' Week 18 tilt against their division rival in the Los Angeles Rams will be crucial for them. After Jimmy Garoppolo sustained a thumb injury in Week 16, many will surely be monitoring the team's quarterback situation, especially ahead of an all-important game.

With or without their QB1, the Niners will still have to pull all the stops in order for them to win against a strong contender and successfully clinch a spot in the postseason. On the other hand, the Rams wouldn't be letting their guard down as well as a shot at securing the NFC West divisional title is on the line for them. Nonetheless, an exciting matchup is surely on the horizon and many fans wouldn't want to miss a crucial divisional rivalry for Week 18 action.

Let's take a look at four predictions for the 49ers' upcoming slate against the Rams for the final game of the regular season:

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San Francisco 49ers Week 18 Predictions

4. The 49ers' pass rushers will tally at least two sacks against Matthew Stafford.

In order to contain the Rams' offensive attack, the 49ers must focus on limiting the opposing playmaker in Matthew Stafford. Last week against the Houston Texans, San Francisco's defense did a solid job of pinning down QB Davis Mills which eventually hindered his ability to set up the offense and make plays for his teammates.

Pass rushers in Arden Key and Jordan Willis both had a sack each while Arik Armstead and Samson Ebukam combined to record a sack against the rookie gunslinger. Though their performance was impressive, it is important to note that they faced a Texans squad that has a significantly weaker offensive line as compared to the Rams.

The Niners' defense will certainly have a tough time getting close to Stafford in the pocket but two sacks would still be a realistic expectation for them to achieve. If they manage to limit Stafford's playmaking then they have a better chance of keeping up with a dangerous Rams' offense that can quickly put up points across the board.

3. Trey Lance will get the start and will notch at least 200 passing yards along with a touchdown.

One of the main concerns for the 49ers heading to the tail end of the regular season is Jimmy Garoppolo's thumb injury that he sustained back in Week 16. He was eventually forced to miss the following game against the Texans which saw rookie QB Trey Lance starting under center.

The 21-year-old didn't disappoint as he compiled 249 yards on 16-of-23 passes completed to go with two touchdowns. He might have missed some passes and threw an interception but he was still able to contribute and save his team's season. Heading to Week 18, Garoppolo's status remains unclear. The 49ers will have a tough decision to make with regards to his status versus the Rams.

With this, it is highly expected that Lance would start in Week 18 anew. In that case, he will surely be shouldering a huge load, as he tries to lead his team to a crucial win. At the same time, it is also a massive opportunity for the rookie QB to prove his capabilities and show that he can perform well under the bright lights.

2. Deebo Samuel will have better numbers in Week 18.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel has been one of the catalysts for the Niners' run this season, especially with his two-way play on offense. In Week 17, the South Carolina product slowed down as he merely tallied 63 receiving yards on three receptions and 19 rushing yards on seven attempts against the Texans.

Without a doubt, Samuel can do better than those numbers and the Niners' coaching staff will surely assess his level of production last week. Given his talent, he will surely need to have more balls thrown to his way in order for him to be more productive on the field. In a crucial game like this, San Francisco would need to lean on its best players and they would need to maximize Samuel's abilities and enable him to make more plays this time against the Rams.

1. The Rams will close out a tight victory over the 49ers.

Kyle Shanahan and his men deserve a ton of credit for turning their season around after winning seven of their last eight games heading to Week 18. Missing the services of their starting quarterback will be a challenge but the depth of their team will also allow them to remain competitive against a stacked team like the Rams.

At this point, Los Angeles is just healthier and more loaded as compared to San Francisco. Plus, playing on their home field for a crucial game will also give the Rams a huge advantage heading to their Week 18 matchup. Despite the odds, all is not yet lost on Shanahan and company but they surely have to play their A-game in order to handle the tall order ahead of them. Click here for the odds on the 49ers' upcoming game against the Rams, courtesy of FanDuel.