Familiar foes

Can Rams — losers of 6 straight to their northern neighbors — finally solve Deebo Samuel and the San Francisco puzzle?

Opening line: Rams by 3 ½, according to FanDuel SportsBook. Series record: 49ers lead 75-67-3.

Last meeting: 49ers beat Rams 27-24 (OT) on Jan. 9 in Inglewood, California. Last week: 49ers beat Packers 13-10; Rams beat Buccaneers 30-27.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

49ers: WR Deebo Samuel.

The Niners’ offense revolves around Samuel either as a receiver or a runner.

Samuel has 1,963 yards from scrimmage in the regular season and playoffs, with 1,487 yards receiving and 476 yards on the ground. Samuel is averaging 6.0 yards per carry and 17.9 yards per reception, and has scored 15 TDs on the season. Samuel has also thrown a TD pass and returned a kick last week for 45 yards to set up a score.

Rams: DT Aaron Donald. The most dominant defensive player of his era was moved to tears by the Rams’ playoff loss in Green Bay last year. Late in his eighth NFL season, the seven-time All-Pro realizes the opportunities to win a ring dwindle each year, and his teammates say they’re playing for No. 99. After making a minimal impact on the Rams’ first two meetings with San Francisco this season (no sacks, one QB hit, three tackles for loss), Donald can help his cause by slowing the 49ers’ solid rushing attack and

generating pressure on QB Jimmy Garoppolo.

KEY MATCHUP

Rams offensive line against Niners defensive line:

San Francisco’s secret to success against Matthew Stafford this season has been seven men in coverage and a four-man defensive front somehow still creating pressure. The Niners have blitzed on just 14% of the Rams’ plays, but have still generated pressure on Stafford on 41% of the passing downs — with the front four winning its battles with LA’s protection schemes. Stafford excels against blitzes, but he needs time and space to get the ball downfield consistently

against thick coverage shells.

STATS AND STUFF

The 49ers have made the NFC championship game the last five times they made the playoffs. San Francisco’s 17 appearances since the merger are the most in the NFL . ... Sean McVay is the winningest coach in Rams postseason history after getting his fifth victory last week.

KYUSUNG GONG/AP BY THE NUMBERS 49ers offense: overall (7), rush (7), pass (12), scoring (13) 49ers defense: overall (3), rush (6), pass (6), scoring (8) Rams offense: overall (9), rush (25), pass (5), scoring (t-7) Rams defense: overall (17), rush (6), pass (22), scoring (15) Turnover differential: 49ers minus-4; Rams plus-2. 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel caught 77 passes for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns and 59 rushes for 365 yards and eight touchdowns during the regular season.

ALEX MENENDEZ/AP After languishing in Detroit most of his career, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is one win away from the Super Bowl.