Rams take big step toward playoffs by winning field-goal battle and sweeping 49ers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It’s happening.
Again.
The Rams rebounded from a dismal first half of the season and they are making a run for the playoffs.
Again.
Despite a nebulous performance on offense against the San Francisco 49ers, coach Sean McVay’s team is now the one nobody in the NFL wants to play.
Again.
Rams hold on to defeat 49ers 12-6
🏈 Rams 12, 49ers 6 — FINAL
Joshua Karty kicked a 29-yard field goal with 18 seconds left to help lift the Rams to a hard-fought victory over the rival 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
Both teams failed to reach the end zone, but Karty kicked three of his four field goals on the Rams’ final three possessions. Rams cornerback Darious Williams picked off 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy in the end zone in the fourth quarter to also help the Rams’ cause.
In addition to his final field goal, Karty converted on kicks of 48, 23 and 27 yards for all of the Rams’ points.
On the Rams’ final drive, Matthew Stafford found tight end Colby Parkinson on a 14-yard pass on third and four after the two-minute warning to pick up a critical first down that compromised the 49ers’ chances of mounting a comeback.
Rams’ Charles Woods was called for a 15-yard horse collar penalty on San Francisco’ final kickoff return, moving the ball to the 50. But with only 11 seconds left, the 49ers couldn’t find the end zone. Rams linebacker Christian Rozeboom sacked Purdy to end the game.
Stafford completed 16 of 27 passes for 160 yards. Kyren Williams rushed for 108 yards in 29 carries and Puka Nacua made seven catches for 97 yards.
Purdy completed 14 of 31 passes for 142 yards and 49ers tight end George Kittle had four catches for 61 yards.
The Rams are 8-6 heading into their Dec. 22 road game against the New York Jets. San Francisco falls to 6-7.
Darious Williams picks off Brock Purdy in the end zone
🏈 Rams 9, 49ers 6 — 4:14 left in the fourth quarter
Rams cornerback Darious Williams intercepted a Brock Purdy pass in the end zone to thwart a prime chance for the 49ers to take the lead late in the fourth quarter.
The interception abruptly ended an eight-play, 39-yard drive for San Francisco and continued a trend of impressive play by the Rams’ secondary tonight.
Joshua Karty’s third field goal gives Rams lead over 49ers
🏈 Rams 9, 49ers 6 — 9:28 left in the fourth quarter
Joshua Karty kicked a 27-yard field goal to give the Rams their first lead of the game after another encouraging drive yielded points for the Rams
The five-play, 59-yard drive was mostly fueled by Matthew Stafford connecting on a 51-yard pass to Puka Nacua — the biggest play of the game.
Rams miss out on touchdown, settle for field goal to tie game
🏈 Rams 6, 49ers 6 — 13:41 left in the fourth quarter
The Rams’ best drive of the game still wasn’t enough to get them into the end zone.
Joshua Karty kicked a 23-yard field goal to tie the score when the Rams failed to punch it into the end zone after a 17-play, 65-yard drive.
Matthew Stafford got the Rams close, scrambling to the San Francisco two-yard line until a holding penalty on Davis Allen pushed the ball back. Two more Rams penalties on third down necessitated the field-goal try.
Puka Nacua made a catch for 13 yards and two catches for seven yards on the drive.
Stafford has completed 10 of 21 passes for 74 yards.
49ers retake lead on another Jake Moody field goal
🏈 49ers 6, Rams 3 — 8:23 left in the third quarter
Jake Moody kicked a 47-yard field goal to put the 49ers in the lead.
The Rams got the ball to start the second half, but went three and out.
The 49ers started the ensuing drive at their 37-yard line and used 10 plays to march 34 yards before receiver Deebo Samuel dropped a third-down pass over the middle that would have produced a big play.
Joshua Karty field goal makes it a tied game at halftime
🏈 Rams 3, 49ers 3 — HALFTIME
Joshua Karty kicked a 48-yard field goal with just more than a minute left in the second quarter to tie the score.
The Rams had punted on their previous five possessions before Karty’s field goal capped a seven-play, 20-yard drive.
The Rams gained only 89 yards and converted two of eight third downs during a first half in which both teams were hampered by pouring rain.
Matthew Stafford has completed four of 12 passes for 23 yards.
Kyren Williams has rushed for 44 yards in 14 carries.
Defensive lineman Kobie Turner has two sacks.
Brock Purdy has completed nine of 19 passes for 96 yards for the 49ers.
There were 11 combined punts in the first half, tying for the most in any game this season.
And the longest run of the game came during halftime.
Jake Moody field goal gives 49ers lead in first quarter
🏈 49ers 3, Rams 0 — 10:01 left in the first quarter
Jake Moody gave the 49ers the early lead by kicking a 53-yard field goal.
Moody’s kick capped a five-play drive that covered 39 yards.
The teams had traded possessions before the 49ers put together their scoring drive, which began with Brock Purdy’s 33-yard pass to tight end George Kittle.
NFL Week 15 picks: Big implications behind Bills-Lions, Steelers-Eagles, Chargers-Bucs
Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups this week. Lines according to FanDuel Sportsbook (O/U = over/under). Record last week 10-3 (.769); season 141-67 (.678). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer predicted, the record against the spread last week would have been 5-8 (.385); season 111-95-2 (.539). Times Pacific. TV channels are Los Angeles local.
RAMS (7-6) AT 49ERS (6-7)
Tonight, 5:15. TV: Channel 11, Prime Video
Line: 49ers by 2½. O/U: 49½.
How becoming a dad helped convince Sean McVay to remain Rams head coach
After the Rams hired Sean McVay in 2017, general manager Les Snead was eager to see the 30-year-old’s coaching process at work.
During McVay’s first seven seasons, Snead often observed McVay in the coach’s office, busily scheming plays. Reading motivational books. Meeting with coaches, players and team executives.
So Snead was shocked last August when he witnessed something totally unexpected: McVay making faces and cooing baby talk on a video call.
“Of all the things I thought I would see Sean McVay do,” Snead said, “that was not on the list.”
Unlike last Rams-49ers meeting, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are hands on
They were two moments seemingly frozen in time, balletic catches by Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp that not only indicated the Rams offense could finally produce consistently but also could do it with panache.
In Sunday’s victory over the Buffalo Bills, Nacua made a full-extension, toe-tap catch on the sideline that should be framed as artwork. Kupp’s leaping acrobatic touchdown catch harked to the veteran’s historic 2021 season.
It was not the first time the two receivers showed they were past injuries that sidelined them early this season. In a mid-November victory over the New England Patriots, both amassed more than 100 yards receiving.
But this was different.
Emmanuel Forbes Jr. set to make his Rams debut vs. 49ers
Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr., a 2023 first-round draft pick claimed off waivers from the Washington Commanders, will make his Rams debut on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers.
Forbes was not among the inactives announced 90 minutes before kickoff at Levi’s Stadium.
Forbes was inactive for last Sunday’s 44-42 victory over the Buffalo Bills because he was still getting acclimated to the Rams’ playbook.
But starter Cobie Durant suffered a lung bruise against the Bills, putting Forbes on track to have a role against the 49ers opposite cornerback Darious Williams.
Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon has experience as a starter, but he did not play against the New Orleans Saints and played only limited defensive snaps against the Bills.
Rams vs. 49ers inactives for Thursday night
Here are the players who will not be suiting up for the Rams and San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night:
Rams inactives: QB Stetson Bennett, CB Cobie Durant, RB Cody Schrader, OLB Brennan Jackson, OL Dylan McMahon, OL Warren McClendon Jr.
49ers inactives: QB Joshua Dobbs, LT Trent Williams, DL Khalil Davis, S Malik Mustapha, RB Israel Abanikanda, CB Rock Ya-Sin
Deebo Samuel frustrated about ‘not getting the ball!’ 49ers receiver wants it against Rams
Deebo Samuel isn’t the first wide receiver to pout over a perceived dearth of touches, and he certainly won’t be the last. But the fact that he posted on X that he’s “not struggling at all just not getting the ball!!!!!!!” ahead of a Thursday night clash between Samuel’s San Francisco 49ers and the Rams adds a twist to what already should be an entertaining game.
It’s true that Samuel isn’t targeted as often this season, averaging six touches per game, one fewer than during his first five seasons. It’s also true that he isn’t doing as much with the ball when he gets it in his hands.
The six-year veteran has 40 receptions for 553 yards, continuing a slide that began in 2022, a year after he earned All-Pro honors by exploding for 77 catches for 1,405 yards and six touchdowns while also rushing for 365 yards and eight touchdowns. He was rewarded with a three-year, $73.5-million contract extension.
Rams’ Matthew Stafford takes aim at a fifth game without an interception
Matthew Stafford made NFL history several times this season, moving into the top 10 in career yards passing, completions and touchdowns.
On Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers, the Rams’ quarterback won’t be chasing a record but he could achieve a personal milestone of sorts.
Stafford has not had a pass intercepted in his last four games, a streak he achieved only four other times in his 16-year career.
But he never extended that efficiency to five games.
Dre Greenlaw’s return could complicate things for the Rams
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams will see an unwelcome face across the line of scrimmage on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
The 49ers announced Thursday afternoon that linebacker Dre Greenlaw had been activated from the practice squad to the roster.
Greenlaw, a sixth-year pro, suffered a knee injury in the Super Bowl last February while running onto the field from the sideline.
Greenlaw and 49ers linebacker Fred Warner compose one of the most dynamic linebacker duos in the NFL.
“He’s just a physical player,” Stafford said of Greenlaw this week, adding, “[He’s] coming back off of a tough injury that you don’t want to see anybody have. It’s a testament to him and the work that he’s put in to be back where he is right now.
“[He’s] ready to probably step out and play some. He’s an emotional leader and a physical leader for that team. I’m sure it’ll be a big boost for them.”
Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers: How to watch, prediction and betting odds
The Rams have won two games in a row, are over .500 for the first time this season and, with three games against NFC West teams remaining, a playoff berth is within their sights.
Two weeks ago, the injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers appeared as if they might be the Rams’ most favorable division matchup. Not anymore. The 49ers are coming off a 38-13 victory over the Chicago Bears and almost certainly will continue to scrap.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for 320 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-42 victory over the Buffalo Bills, extending to four his streak of games without an interception.