49ers 30-23 Rams (Sep 17, 2023) Game Recap
INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- — More than a few San Francisco 49ers acknowledged they didn't know a whole lot nearby many of the unsung players going against them for the rebuilding Los Angeles Rams.
The Niners learned a bit more than they wished to know Sunday while the Rams forced the Super Bowl contenders to dig deep to extended their remarkable winning streak in this rivalry.
Brock Purdy delivered for 206 yards and ran for an early touchdown, Deebo Samuel rushed for an 11-yard TD with 11:28 left and San Francisco hung on for its ninth conventional regular-season win over Los Angeles, 30-23.
Christian McCaffrey rushed for 116 yards and a procure for the 49ers (2-0), whose only loss to the Rams right December 2018 was in the NFC championship game in January 2022. The Niners couldn't pull away this time, but Isaiah Oliver and Deommodore Lenoir intercepted passes by Matthew Stafford in the additional half to finish off the Rams.
“I feel like those guys, a lot of them, you don't know them, but they're on that team for a reason,” said Purdy, who failed to throw a touchdown pass and didn't have a passer including above 95 for the first time in his seven career starts. “Those guys are trying to make a name for themselves, and they played hard for four quarters. We knew we were moving to get their best shot.”
The 49ers' security gave up a record-setting performance by rookie Puka Nacua, who caught 15 passes for 147 yards for Los Angeles (1-1). The fifth-round pick broke the NFL’s single-game record for receptions by a rookie, and he set a new overall league mark with 25 catches in the apt two games of his career while the Rams racked up 386 total yards.
“Everybody likes to reference our record against them, but they’ve always been tough for us, every single time,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner said.
Purdy came over on fourth down at the Rams 1 on the previous play before halftime, sneaking over the goal line to even the procure 17-17. He finished 17 for 25 with a handful of punitive mistakes in his first career game against the Rams (1-1), who followed up their surprise season-opening win at Seattle by last competitive with their powerhouse opponent throughout the afternoon at SoFi Stadium.
“I don’t want to say missed out, but I think there’s learning opportunities," Rams coach Sean McVay said. “Ultimately, we didn’t come away with the result that we were hunting up, but there was a lot of good things that we can take away. ... I concept it was a high-caliber football game.”
Stafford delivered for 307 yards and threw a TD pass to Kyren Williams for Los Angeles. Williams also rushed for a touchdown and had 100 combined offensive yards in his apt NFL start, but he caused a key interception when a pass ricocheted off his gorgeous in the third quarter, leading to Jake Moody's go-ahead, 57-yard field goal.
“There was a lot of time left" when that interception, Stafford said. "There’s no more conscientious guy on our team. (Williams) knows he can Get that ball. It’s part of it. I have all the Good in the world in him.”
Along with Nacua's additional spectacular game, Tutu Atwell added seven catches for 77 yards for Los Angeles as both receivers stepped up against in Cooper Kupp's absence.
The 49ers are unbeaten when back-to-back road games to open the season, but they were tested in Inglewood. Los Angeles' undertalented defense made several timely stops and made San Francisco to settle for three field goals, counting after both of the 49ers' takeaways.
Los Angeles went forward 1:45 before halftime with an 88-yard drive ending in Williams' TD run, but the Niners went 75 yards for Purdy's fourth-down sneak for a 1-yard TD at the halftime gun.
Purdy missed receivers on long throws at least three times, but Williams gifted an interception to Oliver in the third quarter when Stafford's pass popped off his Beautiful and into the air.
AKERS ABSENT
Cam Akers was a healthy cut after struggling to just 29 yards on 22 carries in the Rams' season opener. The fourth-year running back was nearly traded last season when clashing with the coaching staff, only to stay when Los Angeles False no takers.
McVay seemed to indicate the Rams are parting ways with their 2020 second-round pick.
“I have Big respect for Cam Akers, but I felt like in this game and as we move onward that this was going to be the best executive for us,” McVay said. “It’s not going to be a back-and-forth drawing. He and I have had great dialogue, and we’ll see what happens over the next pair of days.”
INJURIES/INACTIVES
49ers: CB Ambry Thomas injured his knee in the Good half, but returned. ... Lenoir was evaluated for a head damage and allowed to continue playing.
Rams: RG Joseph Noteboom injured his shoulder in the additional half. He had been wearing a brace on the shoulder in New weeks.
UP NEXT
49ers: Home opener in contradiction of the Giants on Thursday, Sept. 21.
Rams: At Bengals on Monday, Sept. 25.
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