Los Angeles Rams kicker Joshua Karty (16) celebrates with teammates after booting 37 yard field goal with two seconds left in the game to lift the Rams to a victory over the San Francisco 49ers at So Fi Stadium in Inglewood on Sun Sep 22, 2024 (AP News photo)
By Barbara Mason
The Los Angeles Rams (1-2) Sunday at So Fi Stadium in the Southland had an awful opening quarter but they continued to plug away through the next three quarters. The San Francisco 49ers (1-2) had a 14-0 lead going into the second quarter.
After the first quarter, the 49ers looked as if they were going to steamroll the Rams with a 14-0 lead. Los Angeles just wouldn’t go away and stole this game from San Francisco in the final minute of the game. Brock Purdy finished with 288 passing yards, 41 rushing and three touchdowns. Jauan Jennings was on fire with 175 receiving yards.
Sunday afternoon an age-old rival welcomed the 49ers to SoFi Stadium the Rams who have really struggled to start the 2024 season with a loss to the Lions in overtime and a crushing loss last week to the Cardinals 41-10.
San Francisco has had their own struggles right now not only losing to the Vikings last week but also the loss of key players Deebo Samuel and George Kittle in that game. Kittle and Samuel joined Christian McCaffrey on the sidelines for Sunday’s game against the Rams.
Despite losing these players, the 49ers had the personnel to win this game especially with all the early struggles Los Angeles has been having but in the end that wasn’t to be.
The 49ers flexed their muscle in the first quarter scoring a touchdown at 11:12 for a 7-0 lead. Purdy connected with Jauan Jennings for 13 yards and the touchdown, The Jake Moody PAT was good and the 49ers had a great start in this game.
They closed out the first quarter with their second touchdown of the day taking a 14-0 lead. Brock Purdy connected with Jennings for a second time in this game for four yards and the six points. Moody kicked his second PAT of the game. Penalties were really hurting the Rams in the opening quarter in a less than impressive start for Los Angeles.
The Rams began to turn this game around in the second quarter. Rams Quarterback Matthew Stafford engineered a great drive downfield as the half began to wind down. He capped off the drive with a 15 yard pass to Kyren Williams who summersaulted his way into the end zone for the Rams first score of the game trailing 14-7. Los Angeles ran off a lot of clock with this 16 play possession.
With under a minute left in the half, San Francisco had an impressive drive underway. Purdy connected with Jennings for 11 yards followed by an 11 yard scramble by Purdy. San Francisco had their eye on a late half field goal when Purdy fumbled the ball, recovered by the Rams.
With 26 seconds left on the clock and three time outs, it was the Rams now looking for a field goal. There would be no field goal to end the first half for either team and the 49ers took a 14-7 lead into the locker room. San Francisco had come into the game guns blazing but the Rams had settled down in the second quarter evening the playing field.
San Francisco would start their first drive of the third quarter inside the Rams ten-yard-line. This was a lengthy drive culminating in a 31 yard Purdy to, who else, Jennings for their third touchdown of the game extending their lead to 21-7.
The Rams struck back scoring a touchdown at 3:53, a three yard Kyren WIliams rush, his second score of the game. The 49ers continued to hang onto the lead 21-14 going into the final quarter.
The 49ers had a 3rd and 1 to start the fourth quarter deep in Los Angeles territory on the Ram 18 yard line. When it looked like the Rams had forced a turnover, a review determined that San Francisco maintained possession of the ball and finished off this lengthy drive with a Jake Moody 26 yard field goal giving the 49ers a 24-14 lead with a lot of time left in the game.
The Rams went crazy offensively with Stafford completing pass after pass, four in total and with a first and goal on the San Francisco 15 Los Angeles was threatening. The 49ers had sacked Stafford pushing him from the eight yard line to the 15.
A touchdown was not in the cards for the Rams but a Joshua Karty 33 Yd Field Goal was successful and San Francisco would be looking to try to drain the clock as well as extending their 24-17 lead.
With three minutes left in the game, San Francisco’s kicker Karty was looking at a 57 yard attempt. The kick failed and Los Angeles had just under three minutes to tie up this game.
A 50 yard connection from Stafford to Tutu Atwell gave the Rams a first and goal at the San Francisco four yard line. It was Kyren Williams up the center for four yards, the extra point was good and we had a tie game at 24 in a crazy turnaround.
The 49ers had 1:51 to get within field goal range and win this game. San Francisco had a rough series unable to get even close to field goal range and had to give up the ball. Los Angeles had 42 seconds left on the clock after Xavier Smith returned the 49er punt to midfield.
The Rams drew a pass interference penalty and Los Angeles was in field goal range on the 49er 25 yard line in a shocking reverse of fortune. Joshua Karty made the 37 yard field Goal giving the Rams their first lead of the game. Los Angeles had not led for 59 minutes of this game but plugged away and came away with the 27-24 win.
San Francisco will be looking to re-group after this loss as they take on the New England Patriots in Santa Clara next Sunday. RIght now the projected date for Deebo Samuels’ return is next Sunday.
George Kittle’s return from a hamstring injury is still unknown. The loss of Samuel, Kittle and McCaffrey had a lot to do with this loss.
Kickoff for the next game Sunday Sep 29th is scheduled for 1:05 PM with the New England Patriots at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara.
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