Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers show they’re not done quite yet with win over Rams
But for one night, at least, the 49ers again resembled a formidable team. Garoppolo threw three touchdown passes and the Niners beat the Los Angeles Rams, 24-16, on Sunday night in Santa Clara, Calif.
“I thought our whole team played pretty well,” Shanahan said. “That was a real good team win, I thought. I mean, our defense played their [butt] off, obviously…. I know both teams were trying to run the ball.”
This perhaps was not on par with last season’s dominant version of the 49ers, who steamrolled their way to the top seed in the NFC playoffs and reached the Super Bowl before unraveling late in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. But it was pretty good.
“We battled tonight,” Garoppolo told NBC after the game. “It was a dogfight. And that’s the way we wanted it.”
Garoppolo bounced back from being benched midway through his return to the lineup a week earlier from an ankle injury. He had touchdown throws, all in the first half, to wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle. The 44-yard strike to Kittle came on a fourth-down gamble by Shanahan.
Shanahan established the Niners’ running game, and Garoppolo thrived with short throws. He connected on 23 of 33 passes for 268 yards.
“The ankle’s feeling a little better this week,” Garoppolo said.
The Niners ran the ball 37 times, even while totaling a relatively modest 122 rushing yards.
“We all know that the last two weeks, we were not playing at the level that we want to play at,” Kittle said in a postgame video news conference. “And that goes as an entire team. We just weren’t playing team football. I know everyone was fired up for this week…. Guys came to work this week. Guys were excited to play. We watched the film. We looked ourselves in the mirror. We realized the things that we were not doing well at. We fixed those…. If we run the ball for 37 times, we’re going to be moving people and that’s how we get wins.”
The 49ers had lost their previous two games, both at home, to the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins. In fact, they’d been overwhelmed by the Dolphins, 43-17.
“We always have a pretty big sense of urgency,” Shanahan said in a video news conference. “But I think when you get embarrassed like we did last week… you can find out a lot about your team…. Usually when stuff like that happens, guys either give in because it gets too hard and they try to hide and point fingers a little bit and just go through the motions. Or guys try to step it up and get better…. They tried to get better this week and not worry about anything else…. I thought they really earned it throughout the week and today.”
The 49ers evened their record at 3-3. They remain in last place in the rugged NFC West, but they showed Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium that they have not surrendered. The Niners’ offensive line was particularly sturdy, keeping Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald from being a factor. Donald didn’t have a sack and was credited with only two tackles.
“Talk about playing a great game,” Garoppolo said. “Those guys up front, they battled. They battled and they battled, all night long. It was a clean pocket. We had a couple third downs that they blocked forever. They just did a great job tonight. I love those guys.”
The Rams dropped to 4-2. Quarterback Jared Goff had a first-half touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Woods. He added a late touchdown throw to wideout Josh Reynolds.
But Goff completed only 19 of 38 passes for 198 yards. He threw a third-quarter interception in the end zone on a fourth-down play after wideout Cooper Kupp had failed to hold on to the ball on a near-touchdown on third down.
The 40-yard touchdown to Reynolds got the Rams within eight points with a little more than three minutes remaining. But the Rams couldn’t get the stop they needed on defense, and the 49ers ran out the clock.
“It’s just the type of mind-set that this team has, the type of character it has,” Garoppolo said. “Guys stepping up, guys who haven’t gotten a ton of reps, they come out here and step up and answer the call. It’s impressive.”
October 18, 2020 at 11:33 PM EDT
49ers return to form, hang on for win over Rams
By Mark Maske
For one night, at least, the San Francisco 49ers again resembled a formidable team. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw three touchdown passes and the Niners beat the Los Angeles Rams, 24-16, Sunday night in Santa Clara, Calif.
This perhaps was not on par with last season’s dominant version of the 49ers, who steamrolled their way to the top seed in the NFC playoffs and reached the Super Bowl before unraveling late in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. But it was pretty good.
Garoppolo bounced back from last week, when he was benched midway through his return to the lineup from an ankle injury. He had touchdown throws, all in the first half, to wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle. The 44-yard strike to Kittle came on a fourth-down gamble by Coach Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan established the Niners’ running game and Garoppolo thrived with short passes. He connected on 23 of 33 passes for 268 yards. The 49ers evened their record at 3-3. They have been ravaged by injuries and remain mired in last place in the rugged NFC West. But they showed Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium that they have not surrendered on their season.
The Rams’ record dropped to 4-2. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald was not a factor and the offense sputtered. Quarterback Jared Goff had a first-half touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Woods, and added a late touchdown throw to wideout Josh Reynolds.
The 40-yard touchdown to Reynolds got the Rams within eight points with a little more than three minutes remaining. But the Rams couldn’t get the stop they needed on defense and the 49ers ran out the clock. Samuel ran for a first down on third and seven to seal the outcome.
Goff completed only 19 of 38 passes for 198 yards. He threw a third-quarter interception in the end zone on a fourth-down play after wideout Cooper Kupp had failed to hold onto the ball on a would-be touchdown on third down. (Final score: 49ers 24, Rams 16)
October 18, 2020 at 11:23 PM EDT
Rams get touchdown to stay in the game
By Mark Maske
The Rams aren’t done quite yet. Jared Goff threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Josh Reynolds, who made the catch despite pass interference by the Niners. The Rams need a stop on defense to get the ball back, but they have only one timeout remaining. (49ers 24, Rams 16, 3:24 left in the fourth quarter)
October 18, 2020 at 11:17 PM EDT
Robbie Gould’s field goal gives Niners first points of second half
By Mark Maske
The 49ers have made it a 15-point game with less than six minutes remaining. Robbie Gould connected on a 49-yard field goal for the Niners’ first points of the second half.
Jimmy Garoppolo set up the kick with a six-yard scramble on third and nine. Garoppolo didn’t get a first down and absorbed a hard hit when he lowered his shoulder at the end of the run. But he did make Gould’s job easier. (49ers 24, Rams 9, 5:26 left in the fourth quarter)
October 18, 2020 at 10:47 PM EDT
Jared Goff’s fourth-and-goal pass intercepted
By Mark Maske
The Rams’ bid to climb back into the game stalled when Jared Goff’s fourth-and-goal pass into the end zone was intercepted by 49ers cornerback Jason Verrett.
Another promising drive for the Rams ended with frustration. Running back Darrell Henderson was stopped at the San Francisco 2-yard line on a second-down carry. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp could not hold onto the ball in the end zone on Goff’s third-down pass. Coach Sean McVay left his offense on the field on fourth down. But Goff’s pass deep into the end zone was grabbed by Verrett for the interception. (49ers 21, Rams 9, 2:33 left in the third quarter)
October 18, 2020 at 10:15 PM EDT
Rams get closer with field goal
By Mark Maske
A promising drive produced only a field goal for the Rams as Samuel Sloman connected from 42 yards. The Rams seemed poised for more. But veteran offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth was called for a false start as the Rams rushed to the line of scrimmage to try to snap the ball with a Niners defender still running off the field. And then Jared Goff threw a third-down pass deep to no one, as intended receiver Josh Reynolds cut off his route. (49ers 21, Rams 9, 12:06 left in the third quarter)
October 18, 2020 at 10:07 PM EDT
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers dominate Rams in first half
By Mark Maske
It has been a frustrating season so far for the 49ers. They have endured an exasperating run of injuries and rarely have resembled the Super Bowl participant that they were last season. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was benched in favor of C.J. Beathard a week ago, midway through his return to the lineup from an ankle injury.
But last season’s Niners reappeared Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium, even if only temporarily. Garoppolo threw three touchdown passes and the 49ers lead the Rams, 21-6, at halftime on “Sunday Night Football.”
Garoppolo completed 17 of 21 passes for 215 yards in the half, with a passer rating of 148.9. He had touchdown passes to wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk and to tight end George Kittle. The 44-yard strike to Kittle came on a fourth-and-two gamble by Coach Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan established the Niners’ running game and Garoppolo thrived with short passes. The Rams had no answers. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald was not a factor in the first half, with no tackles, and the L.A. offense sputtered.
Rams quarterback Jared Goff had a touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Woods. But Goff completed only 5 of 12 passes for 42 yards. The Rams were outgained, 291 total yards to 102, and had the ball for just more than 8 1/2 of the half’s 30 minutes.
The Rams entered the game with a record of 4-1 but looked positively overmatched. (49ers 21, Rams 6 at halftime)
October 18, 2020 at 9:44 PM EDT
Jimmy Garoppolo’s third touchdown pass increases Niners’ lead
By Mark Maske
The Niners look like a Super Bowl contender again, at least in this first half. Jimmy Garoppolo threw his third touchdown pass of the half, a two-yard dart to rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Garoppolo has completed 14 of 16 passes for 193 yards. He has a first-half passer rating of 156.5, just shy of a perfect 158.3. (49ers 21, Rams 6, 1:47 left in the second quarter)
October 18, 2020 at 9:22 PM EDT
Rams get Jared Goff-to-Robert Woods TD but miss the extra point
By Mark Maske
The Rams are on the board as quarterback Jared Goff threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert Woods. An apparent touchdown by the Rams had just been nullified by a holding penalty. Samuel Sloman missed the extra point. (49ers 14, Rams 6, 9:03 left in the second quarter)
October 18, 2020 at 9:16 PM EDT
George Kittle’s fourth-down touchdown extends 49ers’ lead
By Mark Maske
The 49ers are taking it to the Rams, as a successful fourth-down gamble by Coach Kyle Shanahan produced a 44-yard catch and run for a touchdown by tight end George Kittle.
Shanahan left his offense on the field for a fourth-and-two try on the second play of the second quarter. Kittle caught a short pass over the middle from Jimmy Garoppolo, broke a tackle by the Rams’ Darious Williams and sprinted the final 33 yards to the end zone. (49ers 14, Rams 0, 14:14 left in the second quarter)
October 18, 2020 at 8:39 PM EDT
Niners take early lead with Deebo Samuel touchdown
By Mark Maske
The Niners have the early lead over the Rams, thanks to an opening-drive touchdown forged on the running skills of wide receiver Deebo Samuel. He scored the touchdown from six yards away on what technically was a catch of a pass by quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who flipped the ball forward to Samuel on what amounted to an end-around.
Samuel also had a 35-yard catch and run on a play on which Rams defenders seemed to believe that Samuel was down by contact. But his knee never touched the turf and he kept running. (49ers 7, Rams 0, 11:39 left in the first quarter)
October 18, 2020 at 7:31 PM EDT
What to watch for during Sunday night’s Rams-49ers matchup
By Mark Maske
The 49ers are the defending NFC champions, but they have endured early-season injuries and struggles. They’re in last place in the NFC West and this has the feel of being a significant game for them, even in mid-October, when they face the Rams on “Sunday Night Football” in Santa Clara, Calif.
The Niners have lost two straight games and have a record of 2-3. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is to make a second straight start for the 49ers after returning from an ankle injury. He failed to finish last Sunday’s 43-17 loss at home to the Miami Dolphins, throwing two interceptions and being benched in favor of C.J. Beathard for what Coach Kyle Shanahan suggested at the time was at least in part for Garoppolo’s protection.
The Rams are off to a 4-1 start to the season and are chasing the first-place Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald has 7.5 sacks through five games and perhaps is the early-season front-runner for NFL defensive player of the year. Quarterback Jared Goff has played well with eight touchdown passes, three interceptions and a passer rating of 108.8.
