49ers can Potentially Play the Rams on Primetime in Week 18

The San Francisco 49ers have played in five primetime games this year.

And when they play the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18, they might make it a sixth game played in primetime. That all depends on the results of the games in Week 17. The 49ers have a chance at clinching the NFC's No. 1 seed this week, while the Rams can clinch a playoff berth.

However, both teams need more than a win for their respective scenarios to be clinched. They will need help from other teams to lose. The 49ers need the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions to lose, while the Rams need the Seattle Seahawks to lose. Chances are that the 49ers and Rams win in Week 17 without clinching anything. Should that occur, then the 49ers can potentially play the Rams on primetime on Sunday Night Football in Week 18.

The NFL keeps the regular season finale for Sunday Night Football open. That way they can flex any game into that spot to set the stage for the perfect matchup. The 49ers and Rams can be that perfect matchup with the 49ers needing to win to clinch the No. 1 seed, while the Rams need to win to get into the playoffs. So much is at stake in that game that it can drastically change the whole playoff layout in the NFC. It's actually a no-brainer decision for the NFL to flex this game.

Where things get tricky, however, is that there is one other game in Week 18 that can potentially have a stronger case to play in primetime. For example, the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins could be playing for the AFC East division title in Week 18. Perhaps the NFL will view that as the greater draw. They have favored division title races for that primetime slot in the past, so maybe they continue that route.

But I would pushback on that given that the 49ers and Rams can change a lot in the NFC playoff picture. And it's arguably the better game entertainment wise as well. Regardless, the 49ers have a chance to play in primetime again, which I'm sure no one will be complaining about.