San Francisco 49ers Secure Second Win with 30-23 Victory over Los Angeles Rams
By Matt Barrows, David Lombardi, and Jourdan Rodrigue
The San Francisco 49ers emerged victorious with a 30-23 win against the Los Angeles Rams at So-Fi Stadium on Sunday. Here are the key highlights of the game:
- San Francisco’s QB Brock Purdy maintained his undefeated streak as a starter in the regular season, improving to 7-0.
- 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey showcased his skills with 116 rushing yards and a touchdown, along with 19 yards on three catches.
- Deebo Samuel of the 49ers contributed 101 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown.
- Rams receiver Puka Nacua set records by making 25 catches in his first two games of the season, surpassing the previous NFL record. Additionally, Nacua achieved the single-game rookie record with 15 receptions and gained 147 yards.
GO DEEPER
NFL Power Rankings: Let’s overreact! Cowboys are the best in the league
Purdy’s Performance
Brock Purdy, despite some moments of inconsistency, managed to lead the 49ers to victory. While he made a few overthrown passes to Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Samuel that could have resulted in significant gains, he redeemed himself in the fourth quarter. Purdy made a stunning throw across the middle to Samuel for a 16-yard gain. Following that, he trusted Jennings to make a contested catch along the left sideline, resulting in a 31-yard gain, the longest pass play of the day for the 49ers. This set up Samuel’s 11-yard touchdown run, the only touchdown of the second half. — Barrows
GO DEEPER
NFL QB EPA rankings: From Tua Tagovailoa to Joe Burrow and everyone in between
Injury Concerns at Cornerback for the 49ers
The 49ers faced multiple injuries at the cornerback position during the game. They were already missing reserve cornerback Samuel Womack III, who suffered a knee injury during practice and landed on injured reserve. Two other cornerbacks, Ambry Thomas (knee) and Deommodore Lenoir (concussion precaution), also had to leave the field at various points. Thomas returned to the game in the third quarter, while Lenoir was cleared of a concussion and made a game-clinching interception in the late stages of the fourth quarter.
Due to these circumstances, Isaiah Oliver handled the nickel cornerback role for the majority of the game and performed exceptionally, including a crucial interception that led to a 57-yard field goal by Jake Moody. — Barrows
San Francisco’s Tactical Adjustments
The 49ers outperformed the Rams in terms of adjustments, particularly on the defensive side. While Matthew Stafford initially kept the 49ers’ defense off balance in the first half, the persistent blitzing from coordinator Steve Wilks paid off in the second half. The 49ers intercepted Stafford twice and effectively utilized their balanced offensive approach to secure the victory.
The 49ers demonstrated their winning formula built on team balance, which allowed for complementary football throughout the game. Notably, rookie kicker Jake Moody’s 57-yard field goal showcased his value to the team and justified the 49ers’ third-round pick on him. — Lombardi
Impact of Turnovers
Though the Rams put up a stronger fight than anticipated, a critical interception off the hands of running back Kyren Williams started to shift the momentum in favor of the 49ers. Matthew Stafford threw a second interception deep in his team’s territory, targeting Van Jefferson, which ultimately contributed to the Rams’ defeat. The Rams’ offensive line, which initially provided good protection for Stafford, began to succumb to pressure in the second half. Additionally, the Rams suffered a setback when starting right guard Joe Noteboom exited the game due to a shoulder injury.
Overall, the Rams played a more physical game against the 49ers, showcasing an emerging identity rooted in assertive line play and gap running. However, their self-inflicted mistakes provided the 49ers with the opportunity to secure the victory. — Rodrigue
Required Reading
(Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)