NFL PREVIEW 49ers at Rams

SAN FRANCISCO (10-5) At ST. LOUIS (6-9)
WHEN: 9 tonight.
TV/RADIO: ABC Channels WYTV 33, WEWS 5, WTAE 4; WBBW-AM 1240.
SERIES RECORD -- Rams lead series 54-49-2.
LAST MEETING -- 49ers beat Rams 37-13 on Oct. 6 at San Francisco.
LAST WEEK -- 49ers beat Cardinals 17-14; Rams lost to Seahawks 30-10.
49ERS OFFENSE -- RUSH (6), PASS (14), OVERALL (7)
49ERS DEFENSE -- RUSH (12), PASS (21), OVERALL (15)
RAMS OFFENSE -- RUSH (30), PASS (2), OVERALL (10)
RAMS DEFENSE -- RUSH (13), PASS (13), OVERALL (10)
KEY MATCHUP -- Second string vs. second string because the game has no playoff implications. San Francisco WR Terrell Owens gets another week to rest groin injury and QB Jeff Garcia will see limited action. St. Louis may be down to fourth-string quarterback.
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES -- San Francisco has clinched division title. ... San Francisco is 5-0 vs. NFC West and 5-2 on road. ... 49ers are 1-5 vs. teams with winning records. ... 49ers have plus-10 in takeaways-giveaways. ... 49ers have 30-17 (.638) record in December over last 10 seasons. ... Garcia needs 172 yards passing for third consecutive 3,500-yard season. ... RB Garrison Hearst needs 95 yards for second consecutive 1,000-yard season. ... St. Louis is 24-6 in division games since 1999, and 5-2 at home this season. ... Rams have won six of last seven against San Francisco. ... St. Louis has a minus-19 in takeaways-giveaways. ... RB Marshall Faulk needs 90 yards rushing for his sixth consecutive and eighth career 1,000-yard season. ... Marc Bulger, 6-0 as starting QB, will miss game with spinal injury. ... QB Jamie Martin, who completed 64.6 percent of passes (31-of-48) last week, also might be sidelined with bruised left knee. ... Scott Covington could get start.