What you need to know
Rams defeat rival 49ers in stunning fashion for their first win
Xavier Smith’s huge punt return sets up winning field goal in Rams comeback win
🏠Rams 27, 49ers 24 — FINAL
All Matthew Stafford needed was a chance.
The San Francisco 49ers gave the Rams’ veteran quarterback two opportunities in the final minutes of Sunday’s game at SoFi Stadium and Stafford made them pay both times.
Stafford engineered a game-tying touchdown drive and then a game-winning field goal drive as the Rams came back to defeat the 49ers, 27-24, before a crowd of 74,484.
Joshua Karty kicked a 37-yard field goal with two seconds left to clinch a win that improved the Rams record to 1-2.
Kyren Williams rushed for two touchdowns and also caught a touchdown pass as the Rams avoided falling to 0-3.
Stafford completed 16 of 26 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown. Williams rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns in 24 carries. He caught two passes for 27 yards and a touchdown.
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy tossed three touchdown passes to receiver Jauan Jennings, but it was not enough to hold off the Rams.
It was an important victory for a Rams team that is without injured receiver Cooper Kupp, who is out indefinitely, and receiver Puka Nacua, offensive linemen Steve Avila, Joe Noteboom and Jonah Jackson and defensive backs Darious Williams and John Johnson III are on injured reserve.
Rams tie game late in fourth quarter on Kyren Williams’ third TD
🏠Rams 24, 49ers 24 — 1:50 left in the fourth quarter
Kyren Williams scored his third touchdown of the game on a four-yard carry as the Rams tie the 49ers late in the fourth quarter in what has been a remarkable turnaround for the team.
Stafford connected with Tutu Atwell on a spectacular 50-yard pass to open the drive and set up the touchdown run three plays later.
Jake Moody misses 55-yard field-goal attempt
🏠49ers 24, Rams 17 — 2:52 left in the fourth quarter
San Francisco kicker Jake Moody missed a 55-yard field-goal attempt to keep it a one-touchdown game late in the fourth quarter.
The Rams managed to put the brakes on San Francisco’s seven-play, 33-yard drive by shutting down the passing lanes for Brock Purdy on third down. The Rams will get good field position at their 45-yard line.
Rams cut into 49ers’ lead with Joshua Karty field goal
🏠49ers 24, Rams 17 — 6:15 left in the fourth quarter
After converting on fourth down and one in the red zone, the Rams failed to punch it into the end zone and had to settle for a 33-yard field goal from Joshua Karty.
Kyren Williams broke through San Francisco’s goal-line defense for a three-yard run on fourth and one, but Sam Okuayinonu’s sack on Matthew Stafford and a couple of incomplete passes forced to Rams to go with a field-goal try.
49ers extend their lead on field goal in fourth quarter
🏠49ers 24, Rams 14 — 11:57 left in the fourth quarter
The Rams defense came up with a huge red-zone stop to force San Francisco to settle for a 26-yard field goal from Jake Moody and stay within striking distance.
Rams linebacker Troy Reeder brought down 49ers running back Jordan Mason for a one-yard loss on third down to halt a 13-play, 62-yard drive by San Francisco.
Can Matthew Stafford and the Rams respond?
Rams strike back with another Kyren Williams touchdown
🏠49ers 21, Rams 14 — 3:53 left in the third quarter
Kyren Williams rushed for a three-yard touchdown to keep the Rams within striking distance.
Williams’ second touchdown capped a six-play, 70-yard drive that included a pass interference penalty that resulted in a 48-yard gain, and a third-down reception by receiver Tutu Atwell for a key first down.
Williams has rushed for 66 yards in 18 carries.
Matthew Stafford has completed 11 of 17 passes for 111 yards.
Jauan Jennings scores his third TD on 31-yard pass from Brock Purdy
🏠49ers 21, Rams 7 — 7:01 left in the third quarter
Brock Purdy once again found Jauan Jennings wide open, and they connected for a 31-yard touchdown.
The Rams had the ball to start the second half, but after getting a first down they were forced to punt.
Purdy engineered an 11-play, 91-yard scoring drive, finishing it with his third touchdown pass to Jennings.
Purdy has completed 15 of 20 passes for 176 yards.
Jennings has six catches for 102 yards and three touchdowns.
49ers hold a 14-7 lead over the Rams at halftime
🏠49ers 14, Rams 7 — HALFTIME
Brock Purdy connected with Jauan Jennings for two touchdowns.
But the Rams prevented the 49ers from building an insurmountable lead when Rams running back Kyren Williams somersaulted into the end zone to complete a 14-yard touchdown pass play.
Williams’ scoring play capped a drive that was kept alive when running back Ronnie Rivers ran for a first down on a fake punt.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed eight of 12 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.
Williams has rushed for 53 yards in 13 carries.
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy has completed 12 of 16 passes for 130 yards.
Jennings has four catches for 62 yards.
Jordan Mason has rushed for 30 yards in 12 carries.
Rams get on the board with 14-yard Kyren Williams TD catch
🏠49ers 14, Rams 7 — 1:11 left in the second quarter
Matthew Stafford connected with running back Kyren Williams for a 14-yard touchdown pass play that Williams punctuated with a somersault into the end zone.
The touchdown completed a 16-play, 87-yard drive.
Stafford has completed eight of 11 passes for 79 yards.
Williams has rushed for 49 yards in 12 carries.
Niners extend their lead on another Juan Jennings TD catch
🏠49ers 14, Rams 0 — 1:47 left in the first quarter
Brock Purdy tossed a four-yard touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings to increase the 49ers’ lead.
Purdy has completed eight of 11 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns to Jennings.
The 49ers marched 77 yards in 13 plays with help from a defensive holding penalty against Rams cornerback Tre’Davious White and a pass-interference penalty against safety Kam Curl.
Purdy’s 34-yard pass to Jennings and a 16-yard completion to tight end Eric Saubert keyed the drive.
Brock Purdy and 49ers strike fast for touchdown
🏠49ers 7, Rams 0 — 11:12 left in the first quarter
Well, that was not a great start for the Rams.
Brock Purdy tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Jauan Jennings to complete a eight-play, 70-yard drive.
Running back Jordan Mason, starting again in place of injured Christian McCaffrey, rushed for 24 yards in four carries and also had a seven-yard reception.
Mason rushed for at least 100 yards in each of his first two games.
Rams are seeing red every time San Francisco 49ers come to town
Jimmy Garoppolo has been on the other side, the one that feels a loud and warm embrace every time the San Francisco 49ers visit SoFi Stadium to play the Rams.
During six seasons with the 49ers, the veteran quarterback was 8-0 against the Rams in regular-season games. Garoppolo’s only defeat came in the 2022 NFC championship game at SoFi Stadium.
Garoppolo, now Matthew Stafford’s backup for the Rams, will not play Sunday in the home opener against the 49ers unless Stafford is injured — a possibility that grows every time the Rams lose another offensive lineman because of injury.
Alaric Jackson’s return could be a big boost for Rams’ O-line
Matthew Stafford was sacked five times in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals, a situation that could improve with the return of left tackle Alaric Jackson, who was suspended for the first two games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
“It definitely sucked for us overall,” Jackson said of not being available. “I felt bad about it.”
In Jackson’s absence, Joe Noteboom started the season opener at left tackle. But Noteboom suffered an ankle injury during the game and was replaced by second-year pro AJ Arcuri, who struggled.
Second-year pro Warren McClendon Jr. started against the Cardinals, but also struggled.
“I’m in shape,” Jackson said. “I feel good about it. I’m ready to go.”
Rams vs. 49ers inactives for Sunday
Here are the players that will not be suiting up for the Rams and San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday:
Rams: WR Cooper Kupp, QB Stetson Bennett, RB Cody Schrader, LB Brennan Jackson, OL Geron Christian Sr., TE Davis Allen
49ers: QB Joshua Dobbs, CB Darrell Luter Jr., TE George Kittle, LB Tatum Bethune, OL Ben Bartch, WR Deebo Samuel
Cowboys prepped Rams rookie center Beaux Limmer for 49ers challenge
It will be an eventful home opener for rookie center Beaux Limmer.
The sixth-round draft pick from Arkansas was thrust into a starting role after Steve Avila suffered a knee injury during the season-opener at Detroit, forcing Jonah Jackson to move from center to left guard.
Limmer started against the Cardinals last week, and now he will be snapping to quarterback Matthew Stafford in a SoFi Stadium that will be filled with San Francisco 49ers fans, probably forcing the Rams to go to a silent count.
“I got to experience it a little but when the Cowboys came to town preseason,” Limmer said. “It felt like there were more Cowboys fans than Los Angeles fans, but that’s what I’ve heard it’s about 80-20 [for the] 49ers.”
The 49ers have “freaks” on defense with end Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, Limmer said.
Rams looking to avoid going 0-3 for the first time in more than a decade
The Rams made history last week when they lost to the Arizona Cardinals and fell to 0-2, the first time in coach Sean McVay’s eight seasons that the Rams lost their first two games.
It could get worse before it gets better: The Rams play the defending NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers (1-1) on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
If the Rams lose, they would fall to 0-3 for the first time since the 2011 St. Louis Rams started 0-6 on their way to a 2-14 finish.
How does McVay not let the desperation of needing a victory not overtake him and his team?
“It’s how do you move and how do you make sure that you’re doing the things that are in alignment to stay resilient, to stay strong, to not allow those circumstances to change your ability to attack things with an enthusiasm, with a competitiveness though as well?” McVay said. “Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean you sit here and… raise your hand if you’re happy to be in this situation? Nobody’s raising their hand, but I do know from experiences that pressing the panic button isn’t the way to get out of it either.”
Kyren Williams hoping to jump start the Rams’ running game vs. 49ers
With star receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua sidelined because of injuries, it will be even more pressing for the Rams to establish a rushing attack on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium.
Running back Kyren Williams, who last season rushed for 1,144 yards and scored 15 touchdowns, is off to a slow start for a team that is 0-2 for the first time under Sean McVay.
“It’s still early,” Williams said. “We’re still working and it’s a long season…. We don’t have a mindset where we lose confidence over a little adversity. That’s just part of the game, something you just got to go through and deal with and you’re going to be better because of it.
“I’m glad it’s happening early. We’re going to be better for it later.”
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Williams, a third-year pro, has rushed for only 75 yards in 30 carries, an average of only 2.5 yards per carry. Last season, he averaged five yards per carry.
In the season-opener against the Detroit Lions, Williams rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown in 12 carries. Against the Cardinals, he rushed for 50 yards and a touchdown in 18 carries.
Against the Cardinals, the Rams fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter and 21-0 early in the second.
“He’ll get going,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said of Williams. “He’s doing all the right things…. For any player, but particularly in the run game, it takes all eleven [players], period. The more we’re out there, the more we’ll get into a rhythm.”
With offensive linemen Steve Avila, Joe Noteboom and Jonah Jackcon on injured reserve, the Rams’ offensive has been patchwork. Right tackle Rob Havenstein returned from an ankle injury against the Cardinals and left tackle Alaric Jackson is back after serving a two-game suspension.
“The more continuity we get as an O-line, the more we get to feel out what each other can do,” right guard Kevin Dotson said. “Once we get a little consistency, we’ll be good.”
Rams’ Cooper Kupp not placed on injured list but is wearing cast
It is not a season-ending injury, and it will not require surgery or any other procedure.
That is the upside for the Rams and injured receiver Cooper Kupp based on coach Sean McVay’s comments Wednesday.
On a day the Rams placed safety John Johnson III and offensive lineman Jonah Jackson on the team’s seemingly never-ending list of players on injured reserve, the Rams did not take that step with Kupp, who suffered an ankle injury Sunday during a defeat to the Arizona Cardinals.
“As of right now, we won’t do that,” McVay said before the Rams began practice for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers. “But it’s not like that decision has been finalized. But as of right now, we’re not going to go that direction.”
Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers: How to watch, prediction and betting odds
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s well-being, already at risk because of an injury-depleted offensive line, could be under siege because of an ankle injury suffered by star receiver Cooper Kupp in a 41-10 loss last Sunday at Arizona.
Kupp’s absence, coupled with injured receiver Puka Nacua’s, leaves Demarcus Robinson, Tyler Johnson, Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell as Stafford’s receiver targets.
The Rams must establish a rushing attack with Kyren Williams and a line that will welcome the return of left tackle Alaric Jackson.
The Rams defense won’t have to contend with injured 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, receiver/running back Deebo Samuel and possibly tight end George Kittle, but quarterback Brock Purdy still has receivers Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings and running back Jordan Mason.