Rams come back from double-digit deficit to upset 49ers 27-24 with late field goal

INGLEWOOD — The winless Los Angeles Rams were coming off a 31-point loss and without their top two receivers when they took the field Sunday against a rival that has dominated them for half a decade.

The Rams then fell behind San Francisco by 14 points in the second half, and they were still behind by double digits midway through the fourth quarter.

While Matthew Stafford has seen plenty of crazy things in his 16 years in professional football, the Rams’ thrilling 27-24 victory ranks right up there — both for the way it played out and the heart his team showed under difficult circumstances.

“I’m not a fan of the improbable, the probable,” Stafford said. “The NFL is an improbable business, I can tell you that. You never know what’s going to happen week in and week out. You have to go out there and earn it and prove it, and that’s what we did.”

Kyren Williams ran 4 yards for his third touchdown of the day with 1:51 remaining, and Joshua Karty kicked a 37-yard field goal with 2 seconds left to complete a spectacular rally for Los Angeles, which outscored San Francisco 20-3 in the final 19 minutes.

The Rams (1-2) matched their franchise’s largest second-half comeback victory since 2006 while earning their second straight victory over the 49ers (1-2) after dropping nine of the NFC West rivals’ previous 10 meetings.

Williams caught a TD pass and ran for two touchdowns for the Rams, who avoided their first 0-3 start under Sean McVay in remarkable fashion. Stafford passed for 221 yards and Tutu Atwell had four receptions for 93 yards.

“I think there’s games where you just bring a little more juice,” Williams said. “Just the games where you’re excited to play, when everybody’s doubting you and everybody’s saying, ‘There’s no way the Rams are going to win. The Rams are going to start 0-3.’ We feel that, for sure, but it’s something that motivates us.”

Jauan Jennings set career highs with 11 receptions for 175 yards and three touchdowns for the 49ers, who squandered a lead of at least 14 points for the first time since 2018. While the Rams salvaged hope for their season, the defending NFC champions remained unsettled, frustrated — and below .500 for the first time since Brock Purdy became their starting quarterback in 2022.

The Niners led 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter, but Jake Moody missed a 55-yard field goal attempt for San Francisco with 2:43 left. Stafford made a 50-yard field goal to Atwell from the San Francisco 5-yard line, and Williams made the field goal two plays later.

Ronnie Bell then dropped a long pass with 1:02 left that would have put San Francisco within field goal range, and Xavier Smith – elevated from the Rams’ practice squad for this game – completed his first career punt return 38 yards down the middle of the field.

A 25-yard pass interference penalty on linebacker De’Vondre Campbell put the Rams within range, and their rookie kicker buried the kick.

San Francisco threw several lateral shots after time expired, but the final play died on the Rams’ sideline.

Purdy passed for 292 yards in the Super Bowl favorites’ second straight road loss after their loss at Minnesota last week.

“We had a lot of opportunities,” defensive end Nick Bosa said. “I can only speak for myself, and it wasn’t enough. We have to capitalize on them when we get the opportunity. … It’s definitely a tough start, but we’ve been through tough times before, but we just have to stick together.”

Both teams were without most of their top offensive players due to injuries. The 49ers played without Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, while the Rams were without Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Tyler Higbee.

Purdy focused on Jennings, who caught two touchdown passes in the first quarter and another in the third to become the first 49ers receiver with three TD receptions in a game since Terrell Owens in 2001.

The former seventh-round pick had more TD receptions Sunday than he did in the previous two seasons combined, and his receptions and yards totals were higher than his previous two best games combined.

“Jauan was unbelievable,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “The numbers show it, but more than the numbers, he was a warrior all game long. He’s always that way. He had a lot more opportunities today, and he was automatic on every one of them.”

Jennings’ most impressive catch was a 32-yard reception over Quentin Lake to set up a field goal that gave the Niners a 24-14 lead.

Stafford failed to complete a pass until Atwell ran in the ball with about eight minutes left in the first half. Williams then made a short reception and did a full front flip into the end zone.

Jennings caught a 31-yard TD pass midway through the third quarter. Williams responded with a rushing TD in his sixth straight game, tying the franchise record set by Marshall Faulk in 2001.

Injuries

49ers: LB Dee Winters injured his ankle in the first half of his freshman season, but returned.

Rams: Los Angeles reported no injuries after losing multiple players to serious injuries in each of its first two games.

To be continued

49ers: Welcome New England on September 29.

Rams:In Chicago, September 29.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL