THE PARTICULARS

• Time: 10 a.m.

• Line: 49ers by 10 1/2

• Records: 49ers 12-3, Rams 2-13

• TV: FOX40 – Chris Myers (play-by-play), Tim Ryan (color).

• Radio: ESPN (1320 AM), KNBR (680 AM), Ted Robinson (play-by-play), Eric Davis (color)

• Why watch? Because the 49ers can wrap up a first-round bye with a victory. The best scenario for the 49ers: jump out to a big lead and then play backups, including quarterback Colin Kaepernick, in the second half.

• Rewind: The 49ers pitched their only shutout, 26-0, against the Rams at Candlestick Park on Dec. 4. The 49ers won the NFC West with the victory but lost inside linebacker Patrick Willis for the next three games.

– Matthew Barrows

49ERS' THREE KEYS

• Getting the victory is priority No. 1. A close second, however, is avoiding serious injuries. The team lost tight end Delanie Walker (jaw) for an extended period last week and can't afford another long-term injury.

• The 49ers have played well recently but still are taking field goals over scoring TDs. That works against teams like Seattle and St. Louis but will not against prolific offenses like New Orleans' or Green Bay's.

• The 49ers allowed four sacks to the Rams in their last meeting. Right tackle Anthony Davis has trouble with defensive end Chris Long's quickness. Left tackle Joe Staley has trouble with James Hall's power.

RAMS' THREE KEYS

• A.J. Feeley started at quarterback in the game last month. Today it promises to be Kellen Clemens, who has been careful with the football in two previous games but has been sacked six times.

• Former 49ers wideout Brandon Lloyd was held to just one catch in the previous meeting. Giving the acrobatic Lloyd opportunities to make big plays is one of the ways the Rams can keep pace in this game.

• The 49ers like to run to the outside, especially with Kendall Hunter. That will test the speed of the Rams' defense, including linebacker James Laurinaitis, who had 12 tackles in the Dec. 4 contest.

MATCHUP TO WATCH

49ers defensive end Aldon Smith vs. Rams left tackle Adam Goldberg

The last time the teams met, Smith pancaked Goldberg on his way to one of two sacks of A.J. Feeley. Goldberg shouldn't feel too bad. Smith has been flattening the competition all season, and he is within a half-sack of Jevon Kearse's rookie record – 14 1/2. Smith has extra motivation. He went to high school in Missouri and played at the University of Missouri. There promises to be a few red No. 99 jerseys in the crowd today.

INJURY REPORT

49ERS

• Out: TE Delanie Walker (jaw)

• Questionable: CB Chris Culliver (shoulder), WR Ted Ginn (ankle), RB Bruce Miller (knee), CB Carlos Rogers (knee), WR Kyle Williams (concussion), LB Patrick Willis (hamstring)

RAMS

• Doubtful: QB Sam Bradford (ankle), QB A.J. Feeley (right thumb)

• Questionable: DE Chris Long (ankle)

• Probable: CB Josh Gordy (abdomen), RB Jerious Norwood (illness), LB Brady Poppinga (illness)

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