The Week 16 NFL schedule brings us what has become a late December tradition: Saturday NFL football. There are three games on the Saturday NFL schedule today, ending with 49ers vs. Rams at 8:15 p.m. ET, and all three games are scheduled to be broadcast nationally on NFL Network.
All three Saturday NFL games have playoff picture implications. While the Rams are clinging to their postseason lives, the 49ers already have clinched a playoff spot and are trying to reach the No. 1 seed, which would come with home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. San Francisco is one of three teams (Buffalo, Green Bay) that have reached the playoffs after missing the postseason last year. From 1990-2018, a streak of 29 consecutive years, at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.
Aside from the playoff-related storylines, 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo can reach a milestone Saturday night. With a win, he would tie Pro Football Hall of Famers Roger Staubach and Kurt Warner (20 wins) for the third most wins through a QB's first 25 starts in the Super Bowl era.
MORE: Watch 49ers vs. Rams live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)
In both our picks against the spread and our straight-up predictions for Week 16, Sporting News projected a 49ers victory over the Rams. Below are the explanations.
Pick against the spread: The Rams' offense has found some answers with Todd Gurley and Tyler Higbee, which has opened up both their running and passing games. But it's still Jared Goff in a tough road environment for a second straight game. The 49ers' defense is depleted for the moment, and there are many places where it can be attacked through the air. The 49ers won the first meeting in Los Angeles 20-7; this one will be a little closer and higher scoring, but on a short week, Jimmy Garoppolo will allow the hosts to survive with a stellar second half. Pick: 49ers win 31-27 but fail to cover the spread.
Straight-up prediction: Few expected this to be a game between teams that lost last week, but the Falcons upset the 49ers and the Cowboys beat up on the Rams to set both San Francisco and LA back in the playoff picture. Now the Rams are a long shot to make the playoffs, and the 49ers are stuck in a wild-card spot with their second-place division standing. San Francisco's injuries are a concern, but Kyle Shanahan's offensive creativity will be greater than that of Sean McVay, and the 49ers will eliminate the defending NFC West champs. Pick: 49ers 26, Rams 23.
Below is everything you need to know to watch 49ers vs. Rams on Saturday, including the kickoff time, TV channel and a full Week 16 NFL schedule.
MORE: Week 16 NFL TV coverage map
What channel is 49ers vs. Rams on today?
- TV channel (national): NFL Network
- TV channel (San Francisco): KNTV
- TV channel (Los Angeles): KCBS
- Live stream: fuboTV (7-day free trial)
A special Saturday presentation of NFL football on NFL Network calls for a unique broadcast crew. Kevin Burkhardt and Charles Davis, along with Pam Oliver on the sidelines, will call Rams vs. 49ers from Santa Clara.
NFL Network's Saturday tripleheader will feature an exclusive Next Gen Stats second-screen experience for fans. "Next Gen Stats Live" will give fans access to live player tracking allowing users to follow real-time location and participation on the field in line with the broadcast. Additionally, fans will have access to unique player insights for passing, rushing, receiving and more.
You can also live stream 49ers vs. Rams by signing up for fuboTV, which offers a seven-day free trial.
MORE: 49ers seeding scenarios in NFC
49ers vs. Rams: What time is kickoff?
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 21
- Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
The 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff time for 49ers vs. Rams on Saturday marks the fourth and final prime-time game for San Francisco this season, though it is possible the Week 17 showdown in Seattle will be flexed to the Sunday night window. As of now, the 49ers' season finale against the Seahawks is scheduled in the late Sunday afternoon window.
As for the Rams, Saturday night's game marks their NFL-high sixth prime-time appearance this season. They'll host the Cardinals in the late Sunday afternoon window to close the season next week.
NFL schedule Week 16
You can keep up with live scores and stats with SN's live scoreboard.
Saturday, Dec. 21
| Game | Time | TV |
| Texans at Buccaneers | 1 p.m. ET | NFL Network, fuboTV |
| Bills at Patriots | 4:30 p.m. ET | NFL Network, fuboTV |
| Rams at 49ers | 8:15 p.m. ET | NFL Network, fuboTV |
Sunday, Dec. 22
| Game | Time | Channel |
| Jaguars vs. Falcons | 1 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Ravens vs. Browns | 1 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Saints vs. Titans | 1 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Panthers vs. Colts | 1 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Bengals vs. Dolphins | 1 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Steelers vs. Jets | 1 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Giants vs. Redskins | 1 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Lions vs. Broncos | 4:05 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Raiders vs. Chargers | 4:05 p.m. | CBS, fuboTV |
| Cowboys vs. Eagles | 4:25 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Cardinals vs. Seahawks | 4:25 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV |
| Chiefs vs. Bears | 8:25 p.m. | NBC, fuboTV |
Monday, Dec. 23
| Game | Time | TV |
|---|---|---|
| Packers vs. Vikings | 8:15 p.m. | ESPN |
49ers schedule 2019
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time | TV |
| Week 1 | Sept. 8 | at Buccaneers | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 2 | Sept. 15 | at Bengals | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 3 | Sept. 22 | vs. Steelers | 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 4 | BYE | - | - | - |
| Week 5 | Oct. 7 (Monday) | vs. Browns | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Week 6 | Oct. 13 | at Rams | 4:05 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 7 | Oct. 20 | at Redskins | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 8 | Oct. 27 | vs. Panthers | 4:05 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 9 | Oct. 31 (Thursday) | at Cardinals | 8:20 p.m. ET | Fox/NFLN |
| Week 10 | Nov. 11 (Monday) | vs. Seahawks | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Week 11 | Nov. 17 | vs. Cardinals | 4:05 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 12 | Nov. 24 | vs. Packers | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 13 | Dec. 1 | at Ravens | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 14 | Dec. 8 | at Saints | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 15 | Dec. 15 | vs. Falcons | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 16 | Dec. 21 | vs. Rams | 8:15 p.m. ET | NFLN |
| Week 17 | Dec. 29 | at Seahawks | 4:25 p.m. | Fox |
Rams schedule 2019
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time | TV |
| Week 1 | Sept. 8 | at Panthers | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 2 | Sept. 15 | vs. Saints | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 3 | Sept. 22 | at Browns | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| Week 4 | Sept. 29 | vs. Buccaneers | 4:05 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 5 | Oct. 3 (Thursday) | at Seahawks | 8:20 p.m. ET | Fox/NFLN |
| Week 6 | Oct. 13 | vs. 49ers | 4:05 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 7 | Oct. 20 | at Falcons | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 8 | Oct. 27 | vs. Bengals (London) | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| Week 9 | BYE | - | - | - |
| Week 10 | Nov. 10 | at Steelers | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 11 | Nov. 17 | vs. Bears | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| Week 12 | Nov. 25 (Monday) | vs. Ravens | 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Week 13 | Dec. 1 | at Cardinals | 4:05 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 14 | Dec. 8 | vs. Seahawks | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| Week 15 | Dec. 15 | at Cowboys | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| Week 16 | Dec. 21 | at 49ers | 8:15 p.m. ET | NFLN |
| Week 17 | Dec. 29 | vs. Cardinals | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |