Los Angeles Rams (1-1) – San Francisco 49ers (2-0): 23-30
California derby this Sunday between the Rams, surprise winners of Seattle, and San Francisco, who lost against the Steelers. Two teams therefore competing for first place in the division, and the honor of already being the last undefeated NFC West team.
Los Angeles didn’t come here to suffer
From the start of the match, the 49ers’ game plan was clear: use Christian McCaffrey, again and again, to run the clock and break down the Rams’ porous lines. The running back is in the oven and at the mill and will finish the meeting with 20 carries, 116 yards and 1 touchdown, as well as 3 receptions for 19 yards.
Building on the momentum of the first week, the Rams did not come as expiatory victims. They surprise and respond. Matthew Stafford (34/55, 307 yards, 1 TD, 2 interceptions) distributes the ball with the accuracy of a conductor, and rookies Kyren Williams (14 races, 52 yards, 1 TD) and Puka Nacua (15 receptions, 147 yards) make us forget the absences of Cam Akers and Cooper Kupp.
The locals even have the audacity to score on all their drives in the first period: 17-17 at the break, the suspense is complete.
The 49ers pass the second
Returning from the locker room, the two defenses tightened the mesh and managed to contain the opposing attacks a little better: only 3 points in the third quarter, scored via a 57-yard field goal (!) from the rookie 49ers Jake Moody.
In particular, the red and gold defense is gaining strength and making a series of big plays: Isaiah Oliver’s interception, followed by a 3&out on the following drive by the Rams who incomprehensibly abandon the running game. The momentum seems to have changed sides, and San Francisco is starting to move forward again, Brock Purdy (17/25, 206 yards) relying on Deebo Samuel (6 receptions, 63 yards, 5 races, 38 yards, 1 TD) to take a 10-point lead at the start of the last quarter.
Forced to take risks, Stafford sealed his team’s fate at the end of the match with a second interception: final score 23-30 in favor of the visitors.
If only the victory is beautiful, we can nevertheless describe as encouraging the defeat of the Rams who are superbly coached, but whose squad perhaps lacks pure talent.
On the 49ers side, this victory revealed some weaknesses compared to the perfect copy delivered last week against the Steelers. Still, if the Niners score more than 30 points in every game, they will be difficult to get.
