The San Francisco 49ers did not get off to the start that they wanted. The Los Angeles Rams did what most teams do on their opening drive, taking ten plays to score a touchdown, with little resistance.
In what needed to be a game of keep away, the 49ers offense went three-and-out on its first possession. Kyle Shanahan was able to put makeup on a pig for nearly three months, but at some point, reality was going to hit.
On the ensuing Rams’ drive, they only needed seven plays to march 86 yards. Just
over three minutes later, the Rams had a 14-0 lead.
Jauan Jennings had a drop on the first drive. Some fans wanted a pass interference call, but no flag was thrown. Jennings had a pre-snap penalty to begin the second drive. He found a way to top both of those blunders a few plays later, when Jennings fumbled the ball, just as Kyle Shanahan looked as though he was getting into a groove.
The 49ers defense got the Rams into a third-down situation, but a 1-on-1 matchup between Puka Nacua and Upton Stout went as expected on 3rd & 6. By the end of the first quarter, the Rams were on the fringe of the red zone for the third time in as many drives. One play later, Los Angeles had a goal-to-go situation.
With another opportunity to force a third down, two defenders inexplicably ran after Matthew Stafford, leaving the tight end uncovered in the end zone. Stafford did not miss, and the Rams took a commanding 21-0 lead.
Ben Bartch took over for Spencer Burford at left guard on the third drive. George Kittle’s second reception put the 49ers into scoring position, and Brian Robinson’s carry put the offense in the red zone on a nifty play-call from Shanahan.
The drive would come down to 4th & 1, but Christian McCaffrey would be stopped in the backfield after Luke Farrell could not hold his block.
The defense finally stopped the Rams on the fourth drive. On third down, Jason Pinnock came in for a linebacker, and that ended up being the difference. Skyy Moore followed that up with an impressive punt return, and the Niners were once again in business.
George Kittle made an impossible catch on fourth down, and Mac Jones found Jennings wide open while taking a hit to make it 21-7. If the defense could get a stop and the offense the ball back before the half, we’d have ourselves a ballgame again — if.
The 49ers had an opportunity to get off the field, but Jason Pinnock wasn’t as fortunate this time around. But Saleh and the defense sped Stafford up on the ensuing third down to the point where Renardo Green had a near interception. Nonetheless, the defense got a stop, and the offense had a chance to add points.
A penalty ended that opportunity, but you saw the 49ers take some momentum into halftime, and they’d receive the ball to begin the third quarter.
On 2nd & 7 to begin the third quarter, McCaffrey did what he’d done all season: Make somebody miss. Robinson moved the chains on 3rd & 1 and then picked up 13 yards, and San Francisco was once again in the red zone. Robinson finished the drive off by running over a defender to pull the 49ers within seven.
The defense had a chance on 4th & 2, but Puka Nacua is inevitable. Davante Adams was 1-on-1 with Malik Mustapha, and the result was as you’d expect. That touchdown put the Rams back up two touchdowns to make it 28-14.
It wasn’t as if the Rams were getting stops. The 49ers were the ones who were stopping themselves. Sure enough, Jones led the offense once more into the red zone. On 1st & goal, Jones scrambled, couldn’t find anybody, then found Luke Farrell wide open, who strolled into the end zone untouched.
Once again, the offense answered. Eddy Pinero’s point after attempt was blocked, making it 28-20.
After testing Luke Gifford on 1st & 10, Nacua caught a screen pass for 13 yards, then the Rams targeted Gifford once more, this time, with much more success. A gain of 32 was followed by 12, before Kyren Williams ran in for a touchdown to make it 35-20.
In a drive in which they needed to answer, Jones was intercepted on fourth down, putting the game out of reach. The Rams added another touchdown for good measure to make it 42-20.
George Kittle scored a touchdown, showing impressive body control and even more reason why the passing game should run through him.
The next four games for the 49ers will determine whether they’re playing in the postseason:
@ Cardinals
vs. Panthers
@ Browns
vs. Titans
This loss shouldn’t have been a surprise. If they drop another one, it’ll certainly hurt the team’s playoff odds.
