Photos: San Francisco 49ers lose to rival Los Angeles Rams 21-20

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Los Angeles Rams' Michael Hoecht (97) tackles San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) in the fourth quarter of their NFL game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers 21-20. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

San Francisco 49ers lost a close game to their rival Los Angeles Rams 21-20 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday with quarterback Sam Darnold at the helm.

Despite the loss, the 49ers are entering the playoffs as the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

The 49ers (12-5) now enter a bye week, and they await the lowest remaining seed from next weekend’s wild-card round, after which they’ll learn whether Levi’s Stadium will open again for business on either Saturday, Jan. 20 or Sunday, Jan. 21.

If the 49ers win that playoff opener, they’d host the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 28, with the winner going to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas on Feb. 11.

The Rams (9-7) could be that opponent. They also are playoff-bound, by the strength of seven wins in eight games since their bye. Sunday’s win snapped a nine-game, regular-season losing streak to the 49ers.

The NFC’s other playoff teams are No. 2-seed Dallas Cowboys, No. 3 Detroit Lions, No. 4 Tampa Bay Bucs, No. 5 Philadelphia Eagles, No. 6 Rams and No. 7 Green Bay Packers.