Defense lifts 49ers to 5-0
Unit dominates Rams, allowing just 157 yards in key division victory
LOS ANGELES — Jimmy Garoppolo passed for 243 yards and ran for a touchdown, and the 49ers remained unbeaten with a dominant defensive performance in a 20-7 victory over the struggling Rams on Sunday.
George Kittle had eight catches for 103 yards for the 49ers (5-0), who held the Rams’ once-unstoppable offense to 157 yards in coach Kyle Shanahan’s first victory over coach Sean McVay in a game in which both NFC West rivals were playing their starters.
These longtime coaching colleagues’ teams are going in opposite directions after this onesided showdown at the Coliseum. The 49ers used their possession offense and a sturdy defense to stay alongside the Patriots as the NFL’s only unbeaten teams, while the Rams (3-3) are on their first three-game losing streak of McVay’s 21⁄2-year tenure.
Tevin Coleman rushed for an early touchdown for the 49ers, while Garoppolo was mostly effective despite two turnovers. The 49ers didn’t score a TD in the final 27 minutes, but they’re off to their fourth 5-0 start in franchise history, and their first since 1990.
With Todd Gurley sitting out to rest his bruised thigh, the Rams couldn’t move the ball in its least productive performance of McVay’s tenure. Robert Woods rushed for a TD on the opening drive for the Rams, who then managed 48 net yards on their next seven drives combined.
The 49ers won a defensedominated game by thoroughly throttling the defending NFC champions’ once-impressive passing game. Jared Goff went 13 of 24 for a career-low 78 yards while failing to get comfortable behind a porous offensive line, and the Rams didn’t manage a completion longer than 12 yards while going 0 for 9 on third down.
The 49ers offense wasn’t significantly better during a first half, but the 49ers capitalized on rookie Darrell Henderson’s fumble on the opening snap of the second half for a short go-ahead TD drive.