George Kittle expects Rams matchup to be physical: Going to be ‘a bodybag game’

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers don’t like each other much, being division rivals. There’s also a friendly rivalry between Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan, having worked together previously in Washington.

The Rams would love to snap their five-game losing streak to the 49ers and take back the bragging rights with a win on Sunday, but San Francisco isn’t going to go quietly in the season finale. Tight end George Kittle expects a very physical matchup at SoFi Stadium, one he called “kind of a bodybag game.”

49ers games are always physical with their ground-and-pound attack, but this one could have some extra juice with so much on the line.

Kittle has been excellent against the Rams in his career, averaging 5.5 catches and 87 yards per game in eight meetings with the Rams. He’s also scored five touchdowns in those games, playing a big role in the 49ers’ five-game winning streak against Los Angeles.

The Rams did a good job against him in Week 10, limiting Kittle to just five catches for 50 yards, but he did catch a touchdown pass in the 31-10 win.

Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris expects a physical battle on Sunday, too, saying the Rams have to be better on the edge after getting beat there in Week 10.

“Last time, we talked about these guys attacking the edge and we talked about how physical and how violent it was going to be when we were able to execute, some of the time, but not all of the time,” he said. “And we got to be more consistent in our efforts and our execution and our physicality on the edge.”

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