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Gritty performance from Mac Jones and clutch San Francisco defense propels 49ers past Los Angeles Rams in overtime
In a gutsy performance starting at quarterback for an injured Brock Purdy (toe), Mac Jones did everything he could to lead the San Francisco 49ers to victory on the road.
And though the Niners’ offense was held out of the end zone during the second half, the team’s defense came up huge late by blocking an extra point early in the fourth quarter, forcing a goal-line fumble with under two minutes left and finally stuffing the run on a 4 th & 1 in overtime.
The crucial plays helped secure a Niners’ 26-23 OT win over the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Thursday Night Football to take sole possession of the NFC West. Jones completed 33-of-49 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns.
From the onset, Jones was sharp, finding Jake Tonges for a 6-yard touchdown pass on San Fran’s opening drive and Christian McCaffrey via a 1-yard TD pass on its second possession to give the Niners a 14-0 edge.
San Fran wound up taking a commanding 17-7 lead into halftime, but the Rams’ defense clamped down on Jones and the 49ers in the second half, preventing them from scoring a touchdown.
That and momentum seemed to be on the home team’s side as Matthew Stafford found Kyren Williams for an eight-yard touchdown pass to knot the game at 20 with 10:39 left in the fourth quarter. The Rams failed to seize the lead though as their extra-point attempt was blocked — the beginning of their lates woes.
The very next possession, Eddy Pineiro ended a 12-play, 57-yard drive by managing to just split the upright with a 59-yard field goal to give the Niners a 23-20 lead with 2:52 remaining.
The Rams built a solid drive next but on a 1 st & Goal from San Fran’s 3-yard line, defensive tackle Alfred Collins stripped the ball from a rushing Williams with 1:07 left.
The 49ers took over from their 1-yard line but struggled to mount any offense, resulting in a three-and-out possession.
That afforded the Rams excellent position as they began operating from their own 50-yard line after the punt. Stafford quickly got them into good enough position for Joshua Karty to successfully kick a 48-yard field goal with two seconds left, tying the game at 23 apiece and sending it into overtime.
There, in the extra period, Jones led the 49ers on an eight-play, 37-yard drive capped by a 47-yard field goal that Pineiro kissed off and through the upright to give San Fran a 26-23 edge.
With their last chance, the Rams manufactured a drive which painfully ended with Williams being stopped on a 4 th & 1 rush as the Niners’ defense made a decisive stand to seal the win and boost the team’s record to 4-1. With the loss, the Rams drop to 3-2.
Jones’ solid play was aided by McCaffrey’s 57 yards rushing and 82 yards receiving with one touchdown, while wideout Kendrick Bourne hauled in 10 receptions for 142 yards.
Stafford had 389 yards passing with three touchdowns including two to Williams and one to Puka Nacua.
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