The San Francisco 49ers have already clinched a spot in the NFC playoff picture. They've experienced a great season of football thanks to an incredible defense and solid quarterback play from Jimmy Garoppolo.

It seems highly unlikely at this point that the 49ers will stumble against a struggling Los Angeles Rams. Instead, it's very likely that Garappolo will enjoy a solid showing against the 2018 NFC champions.

The most obvious reason for Garoppolo's likely big game against the Rams is his previous performance against their defense. Last time he squared off with Los Angeles, they managed to dominate the game. While he didn't manage to convert a passing touchdown then, his 243 passing yards more than helped San Francisco to secure the victory.

It's also important to note that Garoppolo's display against the Rams was one of only two games this season where he didn't manage to complete a touchdown pass. The other performance when that happened occurred during the following week against the Washington Redskins and he had to be bailed out by his team's defense.

However, Garoppolo has improved since then. Now, he's easily one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league. Since then, he's completed 19 touchdowns over 2131 yards. His latest foray saw him throw for a touchdown and 200 yards over the Atlanta Falcons, but his numbers should rise a bit afterward.

Another reason why the 28-year-old quarterback is due for a huge game is the fact that his teammates are exceptionally strong in defense. They have ceded the second-least amount of years in the entire NFL, and they're atop the NFL when it comes to passing yards allowed. They're going to be effective against a Rams team that has floundered on offense time and time again.

Finally, a good motivation for Garoppolo to improve is to bite back at detractors saying he's not an elite quarterback. Chris Simms has recently listed out who he thinks are elite quarterbacks in the NFL. He didn't include Jimmy in the list. In spite of the 3,445 rushing yards he's provided this season, Simms doesn't think he's good enough.

There are also other voices that are doubting his ability to win games, saying that he's being carried by the defense. This game is the perfect opportunity for Garoppolo to prove that he's a quarterback worthy of respect.

Managing to continue a high level of momentum heading into the playoffs is reason enough for Garoppolo and all of the 49ers players. However, there should be extra motivation for the team's quarterback given the previous criticism he's received.