Game recap: Depleted Rams thrashed by 49ers
The Los Angeles Rams struggles continue as they fell 2-2 after losing to NFC West rivals San Francisco 49ers 24-9 at Levi’s Stadium.
Despite missing offensive cornerstone Trent Williams through injury, the 49ers offensive was dominant throughout the game in protecting Jimmy Garoppolo as they punished the weak Rams pass rush.
Hufanga’s latest play makes LA pay
San Fran’s defense made life difficult for the LA offense, as Matthew Stafford was sacked seven times on Monday night and this was emphasised by a game-changing pick six by Talanoa Hufanga.
With under seven minutes remaining, the safety jumped a Matthew Stafford screen-play to Cooper Kupp and bolted to the end zone for the game-sealing score and secured the Niners their second win of the season.
The second-year standout from USC has been a menace on defence, flying all over the field, making tackles, breaking up passes, and causing havoc on the 49ers’ back end and being a bright spot for this elite defence.
On the other side of the ball, the San Francisco offence continued to perform at a high level. A 32-yard Jeff Wilson touchdown run in the first quarter and a 57-yard catch and run score on a quick pass to Deebo Samuel helped put the 49ers up 14-6 at halftime.
The playmakers for the 49ers through the first games that they can be elite with the help of QB Jimmy Garoppolo. He finished the game with 239 yards and a touchdown but on 59.3% completion as 16 of his 27 passes were completed.
LA struggle as injuries mount up
For the Rams, their offence stagnated as they only managed to convert three field goals and no offensive touchdown as their offensive struggles continue to be a major talking point for the defending Super Bowl champions.
While Stafford continues to target Kupp, who had 14 catches on 19 targets for 122 yards, other playmakers like Allen Robinson have struggled to make an impact so far on the passing game, and has Stafford to force Kupp to take on more of the receiving targets.
The playmakers have not been able to get open and make plays for themselves. No other Rams WR had more than two catches. Against lesser teams, that might work, but not against the 49ers’ game-wreckers.
With all the issues on the offensive, Kupp optimistically believes these problems are fixable. “Without a doubt, it’s fixable,” he said. “I mean, we’ll look at the film. Obviously, these kinds of games hurt. It’s a gut punch. You walk off that field and don’t accomplish what you have worked so hard to accomplish. Again we will watch the film and in some ways be encouraged. It allows you to say: hey look, this is all stuff that we have answers for. It’s just doing it better.”
The Rams defense couldn’t break through during y in the game as they allowed Stafford to get sacked and pressed heavily during the game.
Elsewhere, while they have backups that are filling in the roles of the interior, the departure of Andrew Whitworth continues to strain the team’s O-line as they have not been able to get adequate replacements and have suffered with offensive woes in the run and pass game.
Looking ahead
Heading into Week Five both teams will look to get their third win of the season. The LA Rams (2-2) head back to SoFi Stadium to host the Dallas Cowboys and the Niners (2-2) will head to Carolina to face off against the Panthers.
