Eddy Piñeiro hit a 41-yard area purpose in additional time earlier than the San Francisco protection stopped Kyren Williams on fourth down with 3:36 to play, and the short-handed 49ers held on for an exhilarating 26-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night time.
Mac Jones, taking part in as an alternative of the injured Brock Purdy, handed for 342 yards and two touchdowns for the 49ers (4-1), who received in OT after a frantic fourth quarter that includes Piñeiro’s tiebreaking 59-yard area purpose with 2:52 left, Williams’ subsequent goalline fumble and Joshua Karty’s tying 48-yard area purpose for the Rams (3-2) with two seconds to play.
The Rams gave the ball to San Francisco to start additional time, and Jones drove to arrange Piñeiro’s third area purpose with 5:51 left.
Jones took a battering from the Rams protection and appeared in extreme discomfort as he left the sector earlier than Piñeiro’s clinching area purpose. He doubled over in ache on the sidelines and appeared to have hassle respiratory as he coped with cramp. He was additionally limping earlier within the recreation after absorbing a number of blows, together with a giant hit from Byron Younger throughout the third quarter.
“That’s what occurs if you don’t follow for a few weeks in order that’s my fault,” stated Jones with a smile after the sport. “I’m actually happy with the protection, they performed nice.”
Los Angeles marched down the sector, and going through fourth-and-one on the San Francisco 11, coach Sean McVay elected to go for it. Marques Sigle and Deommodore Lenoir bought credit score for smothering Williams properly wanting the primary down.
Matthew Stafford handed for 389 yards and three touchdowns for the Rams, who misplaced regardless of racking up 319 yards after halftime. Los Angeles additionally had an additional level blocked, missed a area purpose and fumbled twice deep in 49ers territory.
Purdy sat out for the third time in 4 video games with a toe damage. San Francisco additionally performed with out defensive star Nick Bosa, injured receivers Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall and tight finish George Kittle – however Jones, Christian McCaffrey and a fired-up protection did simply sufficient to reassert the Niners’ dominance on this matchup. McCaffrey had 139 scrimmage yards (57 speeding, 82 receiving) plus a landing for the 49ers.
The sport was one other memorable version of the California rivalry that has principally tilted within the Niners’ favor since Kyle Shanahan and McVay bought their jobs a month aside in 2017. San Francisco received 9 of 10 from 2019 to 2023, shedding solely in an exhilarating NFC championship recreation, earlier than the Rams received the previous three towards a less-than-full-strength Niners roster.
