Seventh Time a Charm for Rams who Knock off 49ers in Bid to Super Bowl

NFC Championship - Facing off on Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line would be two NFC West foes and longtime rivals in the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams. Also going toe to toe would be two longtime friends and former colleagues in Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay, a pair of head coaches who have both helped turn around their franchises and each with a Super Bowl appearance under their belt. Unfortunately, as much as one would like to see the other succeed, only one would move on to the big game, while the other would be sent home to witness the Super Bowl from afar. With one team's dreams of making it to Super Bowl Sunday coming true, the other would see their hopes slip away. And for the 49er Faithful, the hopes and dreams of their team hoisting that elusive sixth Super Bowl title remained just that -- elusive. 

Heading into the matchup, many believed the winner of the game would be determined by which quarterback would commit the fewest amount of mistakes. And for nearly four full quarters, that QB appeared to be San Francisco's Jimmy Garoppolo. That was until the 49ers' final drive of the game when disaster struck. But long before an all around collapse by San Francisco and Jimmy G's costly mistake, coach Shanahan appeared to have the upper hand yet again against his old buddy McVay. Having swept the Rams in the regular season for the third consecutive season and seeking their seventh straight victory over L.A., the 49ers were able to keep the Rams' high-powered offense off the scoreboard in the first quarter as the two teams headed into the second quarter scoreless. After both teams exchanged three and out punts to open the game, the Rams marched their way to the red zone before an interception from quarterback Matt Stafford inside the 5-yardline. Getting a hand on a pass intended for L.A.'s Cooper Kupp was San Francisco's K'Waun Williams who's battled ball fell right into the lap of teammate Jimmie Ward who hauled in his third interception of the season, all against Stafford. 

Though they would miss the opportunity on their first trip to the red zone, Stafford would capitalize on their second chance, finding Kupp all alone in the end zone for the easy touchdown to cap off a 97-yard drive, their longest of the season. Answering with a touchdown of their own, the 49ers setup shop within striking distance after a big play along the sideline from Garoppolo to Brandon Aiyuk. Several plays later, the Niners' biggest play-maker this season would show up once again when Deebo Samuel caught a screen-pass and took it 44-yards to the house for the score. When the Rams failed to convert on a go-ahead 54-yard field goal from kicker Matt Gay on their ensuing possession, the 49ers' Robbie Gould showed his counterpart just how its done as the Niners got him within range to bang thru a 38-yarder to give San Francisco a 10-7 lead at the half. Gould would extend his perfect mark in the postseason with another field goal to make him 21-for-21, the most makes without a miss in the Super Bowl era. After the 49ers punted away their first possession of the second half, the Rams turned the ball over on downs when a QB sneak attempt from a yard out went awry. Taking advantage of the stop, the 49ers would add to their lead when Garoppolo hit tight-end George Kittle in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown, the first of Kittle's career in the postseason. 

Entering the fourth quarter trailing by 10, the Rams would answer with a touchdown of their own when Stafford connected with Cooper Kupp in the end zone for a second time. Bringing his team within a field goal, Kupp who won the triple-crown this year among NFL wide-outs, became the first receiver in league history to have three games of 100+ receiving yards against a single opponent in a single season as the 49ers' secondary continued to struggle and failed to find an answer for the 2022 All-Pro. And just when the Rams began to finally show a late surge of offense, San Francisco suddenly couldn't find any of their own as the offense punted on each of their first two possessions of the fourth quarter, and both times, the Rams would add a field goal. But before the field goal that ultimately tied the game at 17-all, the biggest play of the game for San Francisco would be the one that never happened when safety Jaquiski Tartt failed to come up with a gimme interception that would've came up clutch and put San Francisco in prime position to add to their lead late with under 10 minutes remaining. Reminding us all why he's a defensive-back and not a receiver, Tartt fell to the ground in disbelief when he bobbled what should've been an easy pick.

Instead of adding to their lead, the 49ers quickly found themselves trailing by a field goal with just under two minutes remaining after a second field goal from Matt Gay. In desperate need of a score to either tie the game or take the lead, things began to sputter and the offensive-line started shuffling at the worse possible time. Facing a 3rd and 13, pressure would be applied to Garoppolo from Aaron Donald who had been quiet up to that point, forcing the Niners signal-caller to get off an errant shovel pass that tipped off the hands of his target in JaMycal Hasty and into the hands of a Rams defender to seal the game, 20-17, Rams. Sadly for the 49ers, a 10-point fourth quarter lead and a stadium invasion as red-clad Niner fans took over L.A.'s SoFi Stadium yet again, proved to not be enough when it was all said and done. 

In what's likely to be the final game of QB Jimmy Garoppolo's career in San Francisco, the Niners signal-caller finished with 232 passing yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. As for his counterpart, Matthew Stafford threw for 337 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Neither team would do a whole lot on the ground, making way for big games through the air from San Francisco's Deebo Samuel and the Rams' tandem of Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham Jr. Finishing with 4 receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown, Deebo also added another 26 yards on 7 carries to give him 2,061 scrimmage yards on the year, the most by a WR in a single season in 49ers history (including playoffs), surpassing Hall of Famer Jerry Rice's mark of 2,006 scrimmage yards in 1995. As for L.A.'s dynamic duo, Kupp finished with 11 receptions for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns, becoming only the third Ram ever to haul in 2+ touchdowns in a playoff game. Meanwhile, Beckham had his most productive outing since Week 6 of 2019, catching nine balls for 113 yards to snap a drought of 33 straight games without 100+ receiving yards. 

Another noteworthy performance was that of San Francisco's Nick Bosa. Only three years into his young career and two trips to the playoffs, Bosa tallied another 1.5 sacks on Sunday, passing Hall of Famer Charles Haley (7.5) for the most postseason sacks by a 49ers player since sacks became an official stat in 1982. After missing virtually all of last season after blowing out his knee, Bosa has 0.5+ sacks in each of his six career playoff games, the second longest streak since sacks became official. With a record of 15-6 when leading by 10+ points at any point in the game since 2020 (including playoffs), San Francisco's six losses are the most losses by any team in the NFL in that span. As for the Rams who are 2-23 when trailing by 10+ points in the second half under coach McVay, at least his team knows how to pick them as both wins have come in the NFC Championship game. Adding salt to the wound for Niner fans everywhere, the Rams overcame a fourth quarter deficit of 10+ points to win a game for the first time since Week 1 of the 2013 season (vs Arizona), this after 49 straight losses in such situations. 

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Tempers Flare in 49ers Loss to Cards

Week 9 - Returning home to Levi's Stadium for the first leg of a three game homestand, the 49ers would renew rivalries with division foe (3-4) Arizona. Looking to both take advantage of the absence of Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer who's been placed on injured reserve with a broken arm and avenge a 3-point overtime loss suffered the last time these two teams met in Week 4, the San Francisco defense would have their hands full with running back Adrian Peterson who the 49ers have had a good history against in the 4 games they've faced him. But seeing Peterson for the first time in a Cardinals uniform, however, the former league MVP who tallied 27 carries in four games with the Saints before being traded to Arizona, would record a career-high 37 carries for 159 yards on Sunday. And while the San Francisco defense was able to keep Peterson out of the end zone once again, leaving him searching for his first career touchdown versus the Niners, they weren't able to make that claim against the Cardinals' passing attack.

Facing their third opponent coming off a BYE in four weeks, it would be a frustrating day all around for San Francisco as the offense generated only a single touchdown for the third consecutive game. Meanwhile, the defense would fail to log a single sack for the fourth time this season as Cardinals backup QB Drew Stanton threw for 201 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the afternoon while completing half of his passes (15 for 30) and under minimum pressure from San Francisco's defense. Stanton and the Arizona offense would come out of the gates firing as the former Michigan State product connected on a 52-yard pass to receiver John Brown on the first play from scrimmage. Though it would be the only reception on the day for Brown, it would appear to be enough to at least set up a field goal try for the 42 year old Phil Dawson who had spent the last four seasons as a reliable kicker with the 49ers before signing with Arizona in the offseason. But having struggled mightily thus far in a Cardinals uniform despite now playing his home games indoors, Dawson who missed six field goals combined over the last two seasons with San Francisco, would miss his sixth field goal already this season as the game remained scoreless.

Like they've done so often this season, self-inflicted miscues would harm the 49ers and benefit the opposition once again. A fumbled carry near midfield by fullback Kyle Juszczyk on San Francisco's first possession of the game would help setup the Arizona offense who would strike first just three plays later on a touchdown pass to receiver Jaron Brown. Stanton would later connect with tight-end Jermaine Gresham for a second Arizona touchdown and nearly threw for a third before being picked off in the end zone by linebacker Eric Reid who had made the transition from the safety position just a week ago. Trailing 14-3 entering the second half, San Francisco's one and only trip to the end zone on Sunday would come on a 14-play drive that rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard capitalized with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to make it a 14-10 ballgame. Inspired by Stanton's 52-yard pass on the first play of the game, Beathard would show off his own arm strength with a 55-yard bomb to Marquise Goodwin as the speedy receiver used his Olympic speed to blow by both Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu for the big gain. But the highlights and lowlights for San Francisco would be few and far between as Beathard received little support from his offensive-line and was constantly under pressure all afternoon long.

After failing to pick up a first down on 4th and 3 near midfield, the 49ers would get another chance after forcing a fumble on Adrian Peterson the very next play. But the 9-yard line would be as far as the offense would get as Beathard threw an absolute clunker off his own man's helmet as the pass intended for Garrett Celek failed to make it over the head of his 6' 8" guard Trent Brown, allowing Arizona's Karlos Dansby to come up with the easy interception, sealing the 20-10 win. With his family in attendance watching from the stands, the boneheaded turnover would be the cherry on top of a miserable day for Beathard who received a beating under center to the tune of 5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits. Perhaps none harder than the lick he took from former 49er Antoine Bethea who was flagged for unnecessary roughness on a hit he made while Beathard was sliding. The hit would lead to a scuffle that resulted in three players being ejected including Niners running back Carlos Hyde, but not before he hauled in 9 receptions for 84-yards, both career-highs. The shellacking endured by Beathard who threw for 294 yards in the loss, would draw the attention of Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians who described the rookie QB as, "tough as nails."

Following their first 0-8 start in franchise history a week ago, the 49ers have now dropped to 0-9 on the season as Arizona completed their third straight season sweep of their division rivals. The game wouldn't be the only thing the 49ers would lose as strong-safety Jaquiski Tartt was injured during the 2nd quarter and lost for the season after suffering a fractured arm, the same injury free-safety Jimmie Ward would suffer a week ago. San Francisco has had terrible luck in the injury department this year season and now has an NFL-leading 16 players on Injured Reserve. However, there would be some good news on Sunday as rookie linebacker Reuben Foster who has had his fair share of injuries this season not only completed the first full game of his career, but racked up a game-high 14 tackles in doing so, 13 solo and 1 assisted.

Week 10 Preview - Before heading into their Week 11 BYE, San Francisco will play host to Eli Manning and the struggling (1-7) New York Giants. Coming off a 51-17 shellacking at home to the L.A. Rams, the Giants have been one of the biggest disappointments of 2017 and their struggles are something nobody saw coming as New York entered the season expected to cause fits for the Cowboys and at least pose a threat in the NFC East. Instead, the Giants have gotten off to a sluggish start that has not only begged the question of whether or not head coach Ben McAdoo isn't the man for the job, but also if it's time to move on from longtime quarterback Eli Manning. Sure they're without their star receiver in Odell Beckham Jr. who was lost for the season after fracturing his ankle, but the 2017 Giants have been a far cry from their 2016 self after making it to the playoffs as a Wild Card team via a 11-5 record just a season ago. Averaging just 16.1 points per game (29th in the league) compared to San Francisco's 15.9 (30th), the Giants trail the 49ers in all three of the following categories: total yards per game, passing yards per game, and rushing yards per game. At this point, their meeting with the Giants this week appears to be their best chance at recording a win this season. And what better way for head coach Kyle Shanahan to head into the BYE week with than after a win.


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49ers Sloppy to open 2017, Avoid Scare with Foster in Loss to Panthers

Week 1 - With NFL Sunday officially underway in 2017, the new-look San Francisco 49ers were one of many teams excited to kick start a new regime. Though the John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan era began in the off-season, the two finally got to see their work in progress hit the field in a meaningful game for a first time. And while many are expecting this season to be nothing but a rebuild or trial run, the team might be even further from contending than initially expected after their mistake-filled performance on Sunday. Making his head coaching debut, Kyle Shanahan would be greeted by a familiar foe in the Carolina Panthers. And while his offenses boast a 3-1 record and have scored an average of 33.7 points per game against the Panthers entering this one, Sunday's opener would be a much different story.

For the 49ers who entered 2017 having won each of their last six season-openers including the last two by a combined score of 48-3, San Francisco saw the roles reversed in Week 1. With both teams struggling to get anything going offensively on their first two drives, the 49ers had a golden opportunity slip through the hands of speedy receiver Marquise Goodwin as a deep third down pass by quarterback Brian Hoyer was dropped by the former Olympian, forcing them to punt. The big time completion would've given the Niners a touchdown or at the very least put them inside the 10-yard line and in position to take an early lead. Hoping for a much better second possession, the 49ers saw their second drive near midfield go up in flames after Hoyer was sacked from behind, causing a fumble which was recovered by the defense. It would be the first of four sacks allowed by San Francisco's offensive-line and by far the most costly as it put the Carolina offense within striking distance.

Adding insult to injury, first-round draft pick and 2016 Butkus Award winner Reuben Foster would have to be carted off the field less than 12 minutes into his NFL debut after having his right leg tweaked beneath him as he was blocked from the side by the 320 lb. Matt Kalil. His absence would be felt immediately as the Panthers scored on the very next play as Cam Newton found a wide-open Russell Shepard down the sideline who scored on a 40-yard touchdown after shaking off a poor tackle attempt by free-safety Jaquiski Tartt. Though Foster would later return from the locker room under his own power, he would be ruled out for the game and forced to watch from the sideline. Following the trio of Goodwin's drop, Foster's injury and Shepard's touchdown, it was almost as if someone had let all the air out of Levi's Stadium as the team struggled to get anything going for the rest of the half. The lone highlight of the half would come in the second quarter on an acrobatic interception by Tartt. With Newton looking to connect with Kelvin Benjamin on the home run pass, Tartt leaped into the air and cradled the ball with one hand, making a highlight worthy catch that even Odell Beckham Jr. would appreciate. Electing to go for it on 4th and 1 near midfield with under a minute remaining, San Francisco's failed attempt would be a gift for the Panthers as they were able to march into field goal range and increase their lead.

Staring down a 13-0 deficit to open the second half, any hopes of a hot start for the 49er offense would be erased rather quickly as they were snake bitten by another turnover just two plays in. Hoyer who entered the game with 200 pass attempts without an interception, saw that streak come to an end on the second play of the third quarter as a pass intended for rookie tight-end George Kittle was intercepted by Pro-Bowl linebacker Luke Kuechly. The pick would set up Newton's second touchdown pass of the day, giving Carolina a commanding lead. They would add a Graham Gano field goal on their following possession to make it 23-0 before San Francisco was finally able to get on the board with a field goal of their own, a 44-yarder to give Robbie Gould his first in a 49er uniform. The San Francisco defense would do their part once again by forcing a turnover to open the fourth quarter as second-year corner back Rashard Robinson forced and recovered a fumble on rookie running back Christian McCaffrey who was stripped of the ball. Needing 11 plays to move the ball 30-yards, the 49ers would find themselves on the doorstep of the end zone before being stuffed on the 1-yard line as Carlos Hyde was unable to break the plain.

It would be just one of many squandered opportunities by San Francisco who watched the Panthers milk the last 8:48 on the clock on their way to a 23-3 victory as Cam Newton bounced back from career-low numbers and off-season shoulder surgery. Though he didn't look like his normal self, missing a number of wide-open targets, he kept his team in the game by avoiding costly mistakes against a pass defense that looked decent and held Newton to 171 yards thru the air despite failing to log a single sack against him. McCaffrey who played his collegiate ball just a stones throw away at Stanford, totaled 47 yards on the ground and 38 thru the air, providing a headache for the Niner defense virtually all day long as the Panthers won their sixth consecutive regular season meeting against SF. As for the San Francisco offense, Hoyer who made his fourth consecutive opening-day start for a different team, a feat only surpassed by Jeff Garcia who has five, threw for 193 yards and was held touchdown-less while being sacked four times. Running back Carlos Hyde who provided much of the offense in the first half finished the game with 45 rushing yards and another 32 yards on a game-high 6 receptions. With 44 of Hyde's 45 rushing yards coming in the first quarter, the offense was forced to abandon the run after falling behind by multiple scores to open the second half.

Sweet 16: With only 16 players remaining from last year's 53-man opening-day roster, the 49ers tied a mark for the fewest returning players since 1992 (2012 Rams). Also, the 23-points surrendered by the 49er defense marks the 16th consecutive game in which they've allowed 20-points or more, the second longest streak in franchise history since allowing 17 straight in 1963-64.

Week 2 Preview: With four of their next five games away from Levi's Stadium, the San Francisco 49ers (0-1) will hit the road for the first time in 2017 as they head north to take on the division rival Seattle Seahawks (0-1) who are coming off a loss of their own, a 17-9 defeat to the Packers at Lambeau where Seattle QB Russell Wilson threw for only 158 yards on Sunday. Seeking their first win at Seattle's CenturyLink Field since 2011 and their first win overall against the Seahawks since 2013, both teams will look to avoid falling to 0-2 on the season. The Niners will have to do it without rookie Reuben Foster who's expected to be out at least a month with a high-ankle sprain. 


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49ers Fail to cash-in vs Money Manziel, Browns

Week 14 - Entering Sunday's meeting in Cleveland between the (4-8) San Francisco 49ers and (2-10) Browns, the Niners found themselves in unfamiliar territory -- facing a team with a worse record than their own. Dealing with quarterback issues of their own, the Browns have had their guy all season long in second-year pro Johnny Manziel, but the team's unwillingness to commit to the former Heisman Trophy winner coupled with his poor decision making off the field, has left him on the sidelines more often than on the field. But with Manziel getting the call in this one after serving the last two games on the bench following his restriction set by coach Mike Pettine, the Browns' mobile QB was able to help snap Cleveland's 7-game losing streak. 

After their overtime victory over the Bears last week, the Niners came into this one looking rather surprised and played like a team that underestimated their opponent. Early on, however, the San Francisco defense would make their presence felt by blocking a 42-yard field goal attempt by kicker Travis Coons to keep the game scoreless. But the Niners' inability to get anything going on offense, aided the Browns who scored on their next possession. With only two rushing touchdowns all year for the Browns entering the game, the 49ers would see a steady diet of second-year running back Isiah Crowell who broke off a 50-yard run before doubling Cleveland's rushing touchdown total with his first of two TD's on the afternoon. San Francisco went into the half trailing 10-3, but could've easily been down by 17+ had it not been for a number of miscues by the Browns offense. Third-string running back Glenn Winston showed exactly why he's the Browns' third option at running back as he fumbled his only rush attempt on the afternoon. Manziel would endure a brain-cramp of his own after being flushed from the pocket and throwing an errant pass across his body to midfield which 49ers rookie safety Jaquiski Tartt snagged in midair for his first career interception. 

The Niners would open the second half just as sluggish as the first as the Cleveland defense which entered the game with only 8 sacks on the year, feasted on QB Blaine Gabbert who was sacked nine times in this game alone as the Browns took advantage of a weak 49er o-line and doubled their season sack total. Seeking their first December win since 2012, Manziel helped inch the Browns closer to a W after connecting with his tight-end Gary Barnidge for a 2-yard touchdown. The Browns weren't done there as Crowell added to an already stellar day with his second rush of 50-yards or more with a 54-yard dash en route to a season-high 145-yard performance, including a career-high 95-yards before contact. He would capitalize on the big gain five plays later with his second touchdown. With the game already out of reach, Gabbert and the 49er offense would finally put together a nice drive, marching 94-yards and scoring on a 6-yard touchdown pass in garbage time to receiver Jerome Simpson, his first of the season. Rather poor for a 49ers offense versus a Cleveland defense that has surrendered the third most passing touchdowns this season (25), behind only the Eagles and Saints. 

The only other scoring on the afternoon for the 49ers would come from kicker Phil Dawson whom the Browns payed a tribute to on the stadium scoreboard with a video, highlighting the 14 seasons he played in Cleveland. Manziel out-threw Gabbert in passing yards, 270 to 194 in the 24-10 win as the Browns recorded just their third victory of the season. 

Week 15 Preview - Falling to 4-9 on the year, the 49ers return home where they'll get set to host the 10-3 Cincinnati Bengals. Having been one of the best teams all season, the Bengals are now limping their way to the finish of the regular season with the recent injury to quarterback Andy Dalton who suffered a fractured thumb during the first quarter of Sunday's 33-20 loss to the rival Steelers. The Bengals are still a very dangerous team without Dalton with play-makers on both sides of the ball, but has to have Cincy fans trembling at the thought of making the playoffs without Dalton under center. Although backup QB AJ McCarron is up for the challenge, comparing his situation of stepping in for an injured star quarterback to the one that catapulted Patriots QB Tom Brady into the spotlight. McCarron, a first-year rookie drafted in the fifth round out of Alabama who won 3 National Championships in college with the Crimson Tide and will be making his first career start on Sunday, will look to keep pace in the race for the AFC's number one seed. Meanwhile, the 49ers who saw their own playoff hopes vanish, will try playing spoiler.

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