Rams have just enough offense to hold off 49ers, 41-39.
Offense comes alive to fuel comeback bid, but can’t prevent third straight loss
SANTA CLARA » After Brian Hoyer’s first pass went for a ghastly interception Thursday night, Kyle Shanahan found his quarterback on the sideline for a quick pep talk. Brea
“I just told him, ‘Let’s start over,’’’ the 49ers coach said. “We didn’t change anything. Went right on with the script. I looked in his eyes and he looked fine.”
Hoyer and the 49ers rebounded after a putrid start put a little thrill into a 41-39 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
Still, they fell to 0-3 and haunted by problems as large as a injury-riddled secondary and as small as a missed extra point.
Shanahan might as well tell the rest of the team what he told Hoyer: There’s time to bounce back.
“I don’t really care about our record right now,’’ Shanahan said. “I care about how our guys are respond- ing to it and I want these guys to come back Monday ready to go and ready to fight to
get our first win.’’ The 49ers trailed 41-26 with 8:43 to play in the fourth quarter before giving the proceedings a jolt. The Rams helped by fumbling a kickoff return and failing to recover an onside kick.
Ultimately, however, San Francisco’s defense proved unable to slow Los Angeles. The Rams (2-1), who were the
lowest-scoring team in the NFL last year, ran wild at Levi’s Stadium under firstyear coach Sean McVay.
Jared Goff, the former Cal star, threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns — and wasn’t sacked all night.
Todd Gurley ran 28 times for 113 yards and scored three touchdowns (one receiving). The 49ers secondary also allowed two 100-yard receivers, Robert Woods (six catches for 108 yards) and Sammy Watkins (six catches, 106 yards and two touchdowns).
The 49ers managed only three quarterback hits.
“I have to be one of those guys who leads by example,’’ said linebacker NaVorro Bowman. “Iwas sitting here thinking about what we did do well in this game and what we can build off of.”
KEY IMPRESSIONS
INJURIESMOUNT » It didn’t help that an already thin defensive backfield lost another key player. Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt suffered a concussion with 2:04 to play in the third quarter and did not return.
Defensive lineman Tank Carradine (ankle), fullback Kyle Juszczyk (neck injury and concussion) and linebacker Brock Coyle (concussion) also left the game in the second half and did not return. MISSED CHANCES » Shanahan calls them the “moment of truth” — the plays that make the difference be- tween winning and losing. The 49ers had a chance to tie the score with 2:13 remaining in the game. But their two-point conversion attempt failed when Hoyer’s pass to Trent Taylor was intercepted by Michael Brockers.
Taylor was the third read on the play, after Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin, but the timing looked off.
“I don’t think the defense was set up the way we wanted them to be,’’ Taylor said. “They kind of reacted late to our play. It just didn’t work out the way we wanted it to.” THE EASY ONE » The 49ers had to go for 2 only because the usually reliable Robbie Gould missed an extra point earlier in the fourth quarter. Gould was wide left after Hoyer’s 1-yard pass to Garrett Celek cut the score to 34-26 with 12:50 to play.
“It changes it huge,’’ Shanahan said of the miss. “It definitely affects it, but our special teams also did a hell of a job getting us a couple of turnovers and getting that onsides kick. That’s one of the reasons we were in that game.” ONE LASTGASP » When the 49ers recovered an onside kick at midfield with 2:10 to play in regulation, they had a shot at capping their comeback with a winning field goal. Instead, the of- fense went backward. The game essentially ended with Aaron Donald’s sack of Hoyer on fourth-and-20 with 1:50 to play.
“We played until the end. That’s what you’ve got to do, especially when you’re a young team,’’ Hoyer said. “You’re trying to learn how to win. It takes time.” BAD BEGINNINGS » Shanahan spoke this week about Hoyer needing to get his confidence back after two poor games. But the quarterback opened Week 3 by putting his team into a 7-0 hole in the blink of an eye.
On the 49ers’ first play from scrimmage, the quarterback rifled an unsightly interception into the hands of cornerback Nickell Robey- Coleman, who jumped the route in front of Marquise Goodwin.
IMPACT PLAYERS
RAMS RUNNING BACK TODD GURLEY » Back from the depths of a disappointing season, Gurley delivered another bravura performance. Before Thursday, the 49ers were one of seven teams in the NFL not to allow a rushing touchdown. Gurley had three total TDs in the first half. RUNNING BACK CARLOS HYDE » The 49ers bell cow running back left the game with a hip injury in the first quarter. His return was announced as “questionable” but there he was early inthe second quarter, looking like his body-banging self. He finished with 84 yards on 25 carries, and two touchdowns.
EXTRA POINTS
PERSONAL FOUL » With the 49ers already ailing in the backfield, free safety Jimmie Ward risked ejection with his helmet-to-helmet hit on Robert Woods near the end of the second quarter. Ward drew an unnecessary roughness flag for blasting Woods after a 13yard catch to the 49ers 4-yard line. Gurley followed with a touchdown to give the Rams a 24-13 halftime lead. FASHION STATEMENT » First-round pick Reuben Foster did not play because of an ankle injury but the 49ers linebacker still drew notice. He wore his No. 56 jersey with “Savage” where it’s supposed to say “Foster.”