Romulus vs. Remus, Lamborghini vs. Ferrari, Frazier vs. Ali, McVay vs. Shanahan. The worlds of sport and narrative are built around rivalries and competition. In the NFL, rivalries between coaches tend to be an underappreciated aspect of the game.
On ‘Thursday Night Football, the Los Angeles Rams (7-6) travel to Santa Clara to face the San Francisco 49ers (6-7). Beyond the divisional rivalry, the game features a coaching rivalry between two of the sport’s greatest offensive minds.
A New Page in the McVay-Shanahan Rivalry
Rams head coach Sean McVay and 49ers boss Kyle Shanahan first met in Washington, D.C. From 2010 to 2013, both coaches played a significant role in developing the offense under Kyle’s father, two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Shanahan. Shanahan junior took up the offensive coordinator role, while McVay served as an offensive assistant and tight end coach, before taking the coordinator role in 2014 after Shanahan became the OC in Cleveland.
Both men became NFL head coaches for the first time in 2017. Whereas Shanahan went up to San Francisco Bay, McVay came down to the Los Angeles Basin.
McVay has dominated Shanahan in their head-to-head matchups with an 11-5 record, including a victory in the 2021 NFC Championship Game. The Rams overcame a 10-point deficit to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LVI, their second appearance under McVay. The Rams went on to lift the Lombardi against a young Cincinnati Bengals team, securing McVay’s legacy in Tinsel Town.
In the narrative rivalry, the Super Bowl gives McVay another leg up over his coaching brother. While Shanahan also has two Super Bowl appearances, he doesn’t have the hardware to show for it.
The Last Matchup
The previous matchup between these two coaching icons looked much different from this one. Both teams dealt with significant injuries going in, with SF missing star running back Christian McCaffrey and wide receiver Deebo Samuel. On the other hand, LA missed its wide receiver duo of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
This time, both teams look healthier overall, although Shanahan will miss more key players. McCaffrey is out again with a PCL injury, while offensive tackle Trent Williams and defensive lineman Nick Bosa will likely not get back up to speed on a short week after missing time.
Los Angeles’ win over San Francisco in Week 3 this season proved extremely valuable. It was the team’s only victory in the first five weeks of a season that sees the NFC West closer than ever. This week will be just as important if the Rams were to make a successful push for the playoffs.
Looking Forward
Going into Thursday, the Rams will face a 49ers defense that stands as one of the best in the NFL. Despite missing Bosa, San Francisco maintains a top-three defense in yards per game, allowing just 298.5.
Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen’s best unit is the secondary. Against the pass, his team has another bronze medal, allowing 182.6 yards a contest and 17 touchdowns.
When the Rams are on offense and the 49ers are on defense, two of the NFL’s best units will be on the field. McVay’s offense ranks ninth in passing yards and quarterback Matthew Stafford is 10th in passing touchdowns with 19.
The Rams’ offense showcased its full potential last week against another top team the Buffalo Bills. It remains to be seen if McVay can replicate that success again against his rival.
McVay said that no matter the injuries, the 49ers’ defense remains a top unit and their commitment to competition consistently makes them a threat.
It starts with Fred (Warner)and those guys and the standard at which they play,” Mcvay said. “Win, lose, or draw, when they show up on Sunday, you know what you’re getting yourself into and it’s a dog fight every single time.”
Thursday presents a new story about the McVay-Shanahan rivalry. It is also another crucial opportunity for the Rams to further their position in the playoff race.
Main Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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