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Rams outlast 49ers on sloppy night for 7th win in 9 games

December 13, 2024

SANTA CLARA — Despite a night of sloppy conditions and uncharacteristic offense between the Rams and San Francisco 49ers, no one had made a true mistake on Thursday night. Sure, some throws had flirted with disaster, but none had truly hurt the quarterback who had released them.

But as San Francisco drove with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, QB Brock Purdy made a mistake. He overthrew his target, Jauan Jennings, streaking toward the end zone, and cornerback Darious Williams didn’t let him get away with this one.

The veteran stretched his arms out to corral the ball, falling into the end zone with the interception. The ball back in their control with 5:14 to play, the Rams worked the clock down to 18 seconds before tacking another field goal on to their tally.

Linebacker Christian Rozeboom’s blitz got home on the final play, sacking Purdy to help the Rams (8-6) escape the Bay Area with a 12-6 win – their seventh in the past nine games – and move within a half-game of first-place Seattle in the NFC West.

The Rams won a game without a touchdown for the first time since 2016.

The light but consistent rain falling at Levi’s Stadium looked as if it was having an early impact on Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. He almost threw interceptions on the Rams’ first two third downs, the second bouncing off of 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga’s chest.

The next two third downs were less dangerous, but no more effective as the ball sailed wide of its targets. The Rams had to punt without earning a first down on their first four drives, the first time that has happened in head coach Sean McVay’s eight-season tenure.

The Rams’ defense was up to the challenge of keeping the quicksand offense in the game. Defensive tackle Kobie Turner had two third-down tackles. Safety Cam Kurl broke up two passes to George Kittle. They held San Francisco (6-8) to 20 yards rushing and 191 total yards.

If it weren’t for one long completion to Kittle, the Rams would have shut the 49ers out in the first half. Instead, the two teams went into the locker room tied, 3-3, with Rams kicker Josh Karty converting from 48 yards out after a Rams drive that started at midfield.

Stafford was 4-of-12 passing after the first half and the stagnation continued out of the locker room with a three-and-out.

But with their second drive, the Rams were able to get moving. Stafford started getting the ball out faster to running back Blake Corum out of the backfield and to receiver Puka Nacua for a screen pass. And the Rams continued to get good push in the running game, chewing almost 10 minutes of time off the clock.

It was enough to get the Rams to the goal line, but the 17-play drive stalled as tight end Davis Allen was called for a hold on a Stafford keeper, pushing the offense back. The Rams opted to tie the score with a field goal, breaking the 49ers’ streak of 13 consecutive red-zone possessions on defense without allowing a touchdown.

A 51-yard bomb to Nacua got the Rams back in field-goal range quickly, and Karty, a rookie from Stanford playing his first NFL game back in Northern California, kicked what proved to be the game-winner from 27 yards out.

Stafford finished 16 for 27 for 160 yards with almost all of the damage coming in the second half.

Purdy finished 14 for 31 for 142 yards as the 49ers failed to score a touchdown in a game for the first time since 2019.

More to come on this story.

Orange County Register

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Rams outlast 49ers on sloppy night for 7th win in 9 games

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