Sub-.500 49ers, Rams chase playoff dreams

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams' second year under coach Steve Spagnuolo should be considered a success no matter what happens.

Six wins is a huge leap forward, matching the total from the previous three seasons. The Rams were 1-15 and rarely competitive last year, earning the right to draft quarterback Sam Bradford with the No. 1 overall draft pick.

The kid who has played a major role in the turnaround was optimistic from Day 1. Perhaps he sounded a bit naive. And with the two games to go, a trip to the playoffs still is possible.

"I think before the season if you would have asked anyone, they would have told you we had no shot of making the playoffs," Bradford said. "I think the only people who probably would have told you different are the guys in this building."

Win two more, and they're in. Even after losing their last two, including last week's bellyflop at home against the Chiefs, the Rams (6-8) have a clear-cut path to a first NFC West title and first postseason berth since 2004.

Rams running back Steven Jackson has rushed for 1,148 yards and five touchdowns this season. He averages 3.9 yards per carry. (JEFF ROBERSON ~ Associated Press)

And even if they don't win today, they'll still have an outside shot.

The division is so weak that the 49ers (5-9) are in it, too. There's still a shot the preseason favorites, once 0-5, can salvage their season and end up in the postseason with a 7-9 record.

Win this week and at Arizona plus one loss by the Seahawks, and the 49ers can keep alive their dreams of a first playoff berth since 2002. So what if the Chargers whipped them 34-7 last week?

"I just know our record isn't where we'd like for it to be, but we've still got a shot at the playoffs," 49ers defensive end Justin Smith said. "I know they've taken shots at our conference, but oh well."

Lose this week and they're done. Win to stay alive.

"It's awesome," 49ers center David Baas said. "It's a great opportunity and we have to take advantage of it. We know that."

Running back Steven Jackson and long snapper Chris Massey are the only players left from the Rams' last playoff team, which came near the end of the Mike Martz era. Cornerback Ron Bartell, a second-round pick in 2005, still is waiting to make his playoff debut.

"As a competitor, the toughest time of the year for me is wild card weekend," Bartell said. "You're sitting at home and you're watching and you see the atmosphere.

"I've talked about that to the guys in our room. You don't want to be sitting at home -- unless you have a bye."

They'd like to make their home finale more memorable than last week, when they were tomahawk-chopped off their own field by visiting fans who made the drive across Interstate 70.

"Yeah, I heard it," Rams center Jason Brown said. "That's why they cranked up the music to drown them out. This weekend, we've got to keep San Francisco fans out of our home."

Bradford was 24-7 as the starter at Oklahoma, and already has more losses with St. Louis. He's realistic, too.

"It's a little different than college. You lose one or two games, you're completely out of the national championship picture," Bradford said. "We've lost eight times and we've still got a chance to make the playoffs, and make something happen."

The track record is against them. The Rams have lost five in a row and nine of 11 to the 49ers, and had lost 10 straight to the Seahawks before whipping them 20-3 in early October.

"Let's just be honest, both teams have had our number for quite some time," Jackson said.

Whether they'll bounce back from the Chiefs loss is another question. Jackson believes they will.

"I'm looking forward to seeing how many gamers we have," Jackson said. "We have a tough two-game stretch against division rivals and each poses a very strong threat. It's a good measuring stick for us."

Others can debate the playoff-worthiness of whoever survives in the division.

"If an 8-8 team made it to the playoffs, why not a 7-9 team?" 49ers coach Mike Singletary said. "I just think that sometimes the record is not indicative of what has really transpired that year.

"What really matters is what happens when you get into the playoffs."

The Rams are saying that, too.

"To be honest, it's really nothing I can worry about or we can worry about," Bradford said. "All we're concerned about is finishing the season strong.

"Whoever wins our division, whatever their record is, I believe if you win your division you deserve to be in the playoffs."