Garoppolo, offense rebound to topRams
Seasonsaved? Too soon to say. Confidence restored? Absolutely.
If the 49ers were to win only once during a three-game homestand, Sunday night was the time to do, and they indeed outlasted the Los Angeles Rams 2416 at Levi’s Stadium.
It took the sting off upset losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins prior to this NFC West showdown against the Rams. It also marked the 49ers’ first win in four games at home.
The 49ers (3- 3) play four of their next five onthe road, starting next Sunday with their first visit since 2012 to the NewEngland Patriots (2-3). After that is the annual showdown at Seattle (5- 0) onNov. 1, a Thursday night affair against Green Bay on Nov. 5, and road trips to the NewOrleans and Rams. A Week 11 bye precedes the rematch with the Rams (4-2).
Here are the highs, lows and all you need to know from this
game:
LEAD PROTECTORS » The 49ers looked in 2019 NFC Championship form in the first half, holding the ball 21 of 30 minutes and constructing a 21- 6 halftime lead. Could they hold it, or would they revert to their formthat saw themblow fourthquarter
leads inWeeks 1 and 4 in losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Eagles, not to mention their SuperBowlLIV collapse to Kansas City?
With 3:24 remaining, the Rams cut into a 15-point deficit when Jared Goff finally hit a deep receiver, finding Josh
Reynolds for a 44-yard touchdown against EmmanuelMoseley.
hat sealed the 49ers’ win was a shovel pass toDeebo Samuel for an 11-yard gain on thirdand-7 with 1:13 remaining. That allowed Jimmy Garoppolo to take a knee to kill the final seconds and end a two-game losing streak.
GAROPPOLO, LINE REVIVAL » Jimmy Garoppolo (23- of- 33, 268 yards, three touchdowns) looked more confident and mobile as he battled through his Sept. 20 right-ankle sprain, and he can thank the offensive line for its best protection of the season. Garoppolo even had a thirddown scramble to set up a 49yard field goal by Robbie Gould with 5:26 left.
Coach Kyle Shanahan’s play calls also helped keep Garoppolo out of danger. This also served as a warmup for his return to New England. A 2014 second-round draft pick by the Patriots, he served 3 ½ years as Tom Brady’s backup before a 2017 Halloween trade to the 49ers.
Former 49ers left tackle Joe Staley weighed in on Twitter during the first half to note how great right Mike McGlinchey was playing. Also excellingwas right guard Daniel Brunskill, arguably the line’s weakest link this season who responded by helping neutralizeAaronDonald, theNFL’s sack leader.
When left tackle Trent Williams exited with a potential concussion with 10 minutes remaining, the 49ers offense again stalled, as Jalen Ramsey defended a third- down pass to Kittle. Williams was cleared to return after medical evaluation.
MOSTERT HURT AGAIN » When leading rusher Raheem Mostert exited right afterhalftimewith a left-ankle injury, the 49ers offense stalled and quickly punted on its first three possessions. That was understandable. Earlier, Mostert’s speedwas as impressive and helpful as ever, and so was his noticeable determination in racking up 75 all-purpose yards by halftime. He got pulled after a 1-yard carry.
Mostert missed 2½ games with a knee sprain before returning a week ago, rushing for 90 yards in a lopsided loss to theMiami Dolphins.
Mostert’s exit left the running back duties to Jerick McKinnon and JaMycal Hasty, the latter of whom emerged with runs of 9, 4, 4, 7 and 4 yards before a fourth-quarter drive stalled. Jeff Wilson Jr. was inactivatedwith a calf injury that kept him out the final two practices last week. CORNERBACK HELP » Jason Verrett made the biggest play this season by a 49ers cornerback when he intercepted a fourth-down pass in the end zonewith 2:33 remaining in the third quarter. Verrett peeled off his coverage of Robert Woods to snare JaredGoff’s to Josh Reynolds near the back of the end zone.
It was Verrett’s first interception since 2016, a career that’s been hindered so much by leg injuries since
his 2015 Pro Bowl season for the Chargers.
Verrett was making his fourth straight start after missing the first two games with a hamstring injury. He helped set the first-half tone with a third- quarter pass breakup.
Starting opposite Verrett was Moseley, who made a noticeable return from a two-game sting in concussion protocol. On the positive side, Moseley had three pass defenses, and he successfully prevented a thirddown shot to RobertWoods midway through the fourth quarter. On the negative side, Moseley did allow a fourth-quarter touchdown, and he drew a pass-interference penalty in the third quarter.
PRIME-TIMEKITTLE » George Kittle’s touchdown catch assured him a spot in the highlight reel, but a bigger catch came in the fourth quarter with a third-and-8 conversion. Kittle took it for 11 yards to the Rams’ 38 to extend the 49ers’ possession at a vital time. He finished with seven catches for 109 yards.
His 44-yard touchdown catch put the 49ers ahead 14-0, and perhaps it should not have been a stunning result on a fourth-and-2, over-the-middle pass from Garoppolo. It was Kittle’s second touchdown of the year, after his first came twoweeks ago in theprimetime loss to the Eagles. Four of Kittle’s five touchdown catches last season were in prime-time games.
On this score, Kittle slipped past cornerback Darious Williams at the 33-yard line and went untouched to the end zone for his second touchdown catch of the season.
AIYUK GETS POINTS » Brandon Aiyuk scored for the third time in four games, excellent point production froma first-round draft pick. This time, he produced his first career touchdown reception on a third-and-goal pass fromthe 2. Aiyuk’s first career touchdowns came on runs against the Giants and Eagles.
Aiyuk’s touchdown catch made the lead 21- 6, and it capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ate 7:16 and left just 1:47 before halftime. SUPERSTART » Whatwas so unique about Garoppolo’s opening-series touchdown drive that sawhim complete all four of his passes for 69 yards for a perfect 158.3 passer rating? Notably, all four passeswere behind the line of scrimmage, and that quick- draw, inverted approach kept the Rams from testing Garoppolo’s tender right ankle. The stats: minus-20 air yards and 89 yards after the catch on that drive, according to The Associated Press.
Garoppolo’s second shovel pass toDeebo Samuel resulted in a 6-yard touchdown completion and 7- 0 lead. It was his first toss to Samuel that sparked things, or specifically Samuel’s second effort that saw him bounce off Rams defenders for a 35-yard run to the 36yard line.
Completions to Aiyuk (10 yards) and Kittle (18 yards) preceded Samuel’s first touchdown catch of the season.
TD DESPITE TOUGH D » The Rams’ rushing attack set up their first touchdown, with seven runs getting them deep into the red zone before Robert Woods’ 10-yard touchdown reception against Jaquiski Tartt’s
tight coverage 9:03 before halftime. Dion Jordan blocked the ensuing pointafter attempt to keep the 49ers’ lead at 14-6.
Tartt, and Jamar Taylor, almost got beaten for a third-quarter touchdown but Goffoverthrewan open Cooper Kupp. A subsequent groin injury to Tartt had him replaced by Marcell Harris.
SPECIAL STOP » Tarvarius Moore came through with perhaps the biggest specialteams play of the season, when he downed a punt at the 1-yard line with 9:21 remaining. That was a momentum boost the 49ers needed after their offense punted away their first four possessions after halftime. TURNOVER CONFUSION » The first quarter came to a confusing halt with 1 ½ minutes to go, after officials errantly ruled that JerickMcKinnon fumbled on a run to midfield. Two Rams defenders touched McKinnonashe fell to theturf, and a follow-up review reversed that call to extend the 49ers’ possession at their own 48yard line. GOFF’SHOMECOMING » Jared Goff was consistently off target, other than a 10-yard touchdown pass to Robert Woods in the first half and his 44-yardscoring strike in the fourthquarter. Goffwas just 19-of-38 for 198 yards.
The Rams spread word before the game that Goff’s 37wins since 2017 were the NFL’s second-most behind Brady (39). Goff, a Novato native and Marin Catholic High star, fell to 3- 3 against the 49ers after getting swept in last season’s two meetings, and he entered Sundaywith 12 touchdowns against just three interceptions in the rivalry.