- After two consecutive losses, the 49ers defeated their divisional rival, LA Rams, 24-16.
- Jimmy Garoppolo was magnificent with three TDs in the first half.
- Rams struggled in all areas, playing their worst game since the start of the year.
Garoppolo Dominates in the First Half
The 49ers’ QB was ready to prove its worth and put his name in a positive narrative again. Jimmy G threw 200+yards by halftime, hitting three of his players for a TD, making a huge comeback following last week’s hell against the Miami Dolphins. He once again proved that he is among the elite QBs in the league. After the match, Garoppolo decided not to speak about his performance but to mention his teammates and highlight their contribution.
“I thought the O-line as a whole just did a phenomenal job,” Garoppolo said. “It started with the run game and then the pass game, the pockets were clean all night.”
Eventually, the 28-year old QB had 268 yards, for three TDs, without being picked, sacked, or fumbling the football.
The 49ers opened the game with Deebo Samuel’s TD catch, 3:21 after the start, and added another TD with 46 seconds into the second quarter. Garoppolo-Kittle connection once again struck for a 44-yard score.
For a brief moment, the Rams cut down the lead when Robert Woods added a TD, yet the swing was momentarily stopped with a blocked one-point conversion. Until the end of the halftime, we saw Brandon Aiyuk’s two-yard catch for another 49ers’ touchdown.
In those moments, the guests had no solution, and were looking pretty pale. Samuel Sloman scored a 42-yard FG early in the third, but the Rams had no power to come back. We saw them delivering a TD with 3:24 left, but San Francisco kept the ball in their possession afterward.
Goff and the Rams Restrained
The Rams’ quarterback, Jared Goff, had 50% of passing completion, 19-of-38 for 198 yards, two touchdown passes, and one interception. It is not that bad of performance when you look at the numbers, but he was below the usual level of play when viewing the overall picture.
The defense also had a subpar game, with Aaron Donald and the boys failing to reach and disturb Garoppolo.
“They we’re running the ball. Doing different things and we just didn’t play well today. They were trying to hit the edges on us, so we have to play better,” the two-time Defensive Player of the Year said at the press conference.
Sean McVay has to lift his team after this defeat, because they have two very challenging games coming up. The first one is next week against the Chicago Bears, who are looking very good, especially in the defensive aspect of the game. What is a good thing is that the Rams play this event at home. After that, McVay’s crew heads for Miami to meet the Dolphins.
The 49ers have an even tougher schedule, with both games on the road. Jimmy Garoppolo comes back to his old home, Foxborough, next week to face the Pats, and after that, San Francisco clashes with the Seattle Seahawks.
