INGLEWOOD — The Rams erased a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter of last season’s NFC championship game to beat the San Francisco 49ers, but reminiscing about that one time was never going to inspire this year’s Rams team.
This Rams team has struggled to generate 10 points for most of this season, making a double-digit deficit against the 49ers on Sunday seem like an improbable challenge.
Rams wide receiver Allen Robinson tried to fire himself up after a six-yard catch from his own territory, only to be hit with a 15-yard penalty for getting in the face of 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga. Then there was Rams tight end Tyler Higbee, who slammed his helmet on the ground after dropping a pass on a pivotal third down.
With frustration getting the best of the Rams, predictably there was no fourth-quarter comeback this time, as the 49ers cruised to a 31-14 victory at SoFi Stadium. The Rams (3-4) have now lost eight consecutive regular-season games to the 49ers (4-4).
The 49ers scored 24 unanswered points after trailing 14-7 and leaned on their new star running back Christian McCaffrey to frustrate the Rams. McCaffrey recorded the rare hat trick of scoring touchdowns as a receiver, rusher and passer.
The Rams were potentially a takeaway away from ending the long regular-season losing streak to the rival 49ers.
Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey nearly had two takeaways in the third quarter after a dropped interception and a forced fumble that was recovered by the 49ers, who later turned McCaffrey’s fumble into a touchdown that gave them a 17-14 lead with 15 seconds left in the quarter.
San Francisco had four first downs after the lost opportunity for the Rams and ended it with a Jimmy Garoppolo nine-yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey in the right corner of the end zone.
It was a nightmare second half for the Rams, but for at least one half they seemed to have turned a corner.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford delivered a handful of impressive throws in the first half and received solid protection from the offensive line against the 49ers’ stout pass rushers. Stafford was able to read the field and allowed routes to develop on his first touchdown pass, a rarity for him this season because of the shaky offensive line play.
Stafford used the extra time to deliver a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cooper Kupp to give the Rams a 14-7 advantage with 6:35 left in the second quarter. Earlier on the scoring drive, Stafford unleashed a 23-yard laser across the field for Kupp. Stafford also had a nifty 23-yard strike to Robinson near the right sideline to set up the Rams’ first scoring drive.
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The Rams’ offensive line, with three backups starting, didn’t allow a sack nor a quarterback hit in the first half. Left guard Bobby Evans, right guard Oday Aboushi and left tackle Alaric Jackson started with right tackle Rob Havenstein and center Brian Allen, who returned after a five-game absence because of a knee injury. Niners star edge rusher Nick Bosa finally broke free in the second half and applied plenty of pressure on Stafford.
The Rams didn’t cross the end zone in the previous meeting against the 49ers, but it only took them two drives to do that on Sunday after Stafford scrambled to his right for a one-yard rushing touchdown and a 7-0 advantage with nine seconds left in the first quarter.
The Rams needed 17 plays and nine minutes, 21 seconds to complete their first scoring drive. The 49ers, however, quickly answered with a trick-play score after McCaffrey took a pitch back from Garoppolo and found wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for a 34-yard touchdown pass to tie it 7-7 with 12:10 left in the second quarter. The pro-49ers crowd at SoFi Stadium erupted after the touchdown pass from their new star running back.
Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd didn’t record a sack in the first six games of the season, but he had a breakout performance versus the 49ers by recording two sacks and three quarterback hits in the first half.
More to come.