INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Rams kicker Josh Karty nailed a 37-yard field goal and secured a thrilling 27-24 victory over division-rivals San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.
"What a job by our group just continuing to battle [and] continuing to fight," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "There’s a lot of guts (and) there's a lot of resilience in this group and it's just one game."
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 221 yards and connected with wide receiver TuTu Atwell for one touchdown. Despite missing injured wide receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, the Rams leaned on their ground game and running back Kyren Williams, who rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
The Rams started slowly as they were unable to score in the first quarter, with time of possession heavily favoring the 49ers, who led 14-0 at halftime.
However, Williams provided a spark in the second quarter, front-flipping into the end zone for his first score of the day and cutting the deficit to 14-7. The score extended Williams’ streak to six consecutive games with a rushing touchdown, tying him with Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery for the longest active streak.
Although the Rams were shorthanded without other key players — including offensive lineman Steve Avila and safety John Johnson III — wide receiver TuTu Atwell stepped up in a big way. Atwell even attempted a trick play, throwing a pass to Demarcus Robinson for what appeared to be a touchdown, but was overturned on review.
The 49ers also were dealing with a host of injuries, playing without major offensive weapons Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. Nonetheless, quarterback Brock Purdy kept San Francisco in the game, connecting with Jauan Jennings for three touchdowns.
Jennings had a career day, racking up 175 receiving yards on 11 receptions.
Purdy, who completed 22 of 30 pass attempts, displayed his mobility in the third quarter with a scramble that resulted in a crucial first down. His performance kept the 49ers competitive, but a key mistake late in the game shifted momentum in favor of the Rams.
With just under four minutes remaining, kicker Jake Moody missed a 55-yard field-goal attempt that would have given the 49ers a 27-17 lead. Two plays later, Stafford connected with Atwell for a stunning 50-yard completion, setting up Williams' 4-yard touchdown run that tied the game.
Atwell’s big play was his 19th reception of 50 or more yards since joining the Rams in 2021, tying him with Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow and Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa for the most in that span.
Defensively, Rams cornerback Tre’Davious White delivered a key pass breakup late in the fourth quarter, and Ronnie Rivers kept the 49ers off balance with a surprise fake punt earlier in the game.
With the victory, the Rams (1-2) remain in the hunt for the division lead while the 49ers (2-1) will need to regroup with several key players on the mend.
