San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Tuesday morning, expressing his gratitude for the unwavering support from fans at Levi's Stadium during Sunday's 38-13 victory over the Chicago Bears, despite the team's struggles earlier in the season.
"We've created a high standard, and we've kind of let that down so far this year, but, man, the fans came, and they were ready," Lynch said. "And I think we inspired the fans early with our play, but they were into that game, and that was really cool, and we're very appreciative."
Lynch emphasized that the 49ers will need that same energy and support on Thursday night when they host the Los Angeles Rams for a crucial Week 15 NFC West showdown at Levi's Stadium.
"The Rams are playing good ball," Lynch noted. "They tripped us up earlier this year, and we've got a great opportunity to get them back."
With a 6-7 record, the 49ers are treating every game like a playoff battle, knowing that another loss could effectively end their already slim postseason hopes. Lynch acknowledged that the team is not looking too far ahead and staying focused on the immediate task—beating the Rams.
"I think, provided we do that (remain focused), we're going to be all right," Lynch said. "But that starts with the Rams, and that's where our focus is. And we've got to have Levi's rocking Thursday night."
The 49ers have had internal discussions about their current situation, understanding the gravity of each game after digging themselves into an early hole.
"This is playoff football for us because that's really where it's at, in our mind," Lynch remarked. "And I felt like the guys responded as such. I felt like they played [as if it were a playoff game] and that that stadium had that type of feel. And we've got to continue that.
"And I thought we did a really good job of blocking out all the noise and really just focusing on one opponent, and that was the Bears."
While the 49ers dismantled the struggling Bears, the Rams are coming off an impressive win, putting up 44 points against one of the league's top teams, the Buffalo Bills. Lynch is mindful not to underestimate their next opponent, especially after the Bills' dominant victory over the 49ers just one week prior.
Lynch added, "And now, we move on to the Rams, a really good football team. ... They have a lot of challenges they present, but I can't wait for Thursday night."
You can listen to Lynch's entire interview below.
