The Los Angeles Rams had an opportunity to take down a division rival and transfer into sole possession of first place on Thursday evening, however as an alternative, they got here up empty after making a number of big errors throughout the late phases of their 26-23 time beyond regulation loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Rams, who had been favored by 8.5 factors, grew to become an upset sufferer as a result of they could not get out of their very own manner within the fourth quarter. Though Matthew Stafford threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns, it wasn’t fairly sufficient to beat the Rams’ expensive errors.
Let’s cowl the three largest errors that the Rams constructed from the fourth quarter and time beyond regulation.
The Rams gave up one other blocked kick
The Rams trailed 20-7 within the third quarter, however due to Stafford, they had been rapidly capable of erase that deficit. The Rams quarterback threw a landing move to Puka Nacua within the third quarter to chop the result in 20-14. Within the fourth quarter, it regarded just like the Rams had been going to take a 21-20 lead after Kyren Wililams caught an 8-yard scoring move, however that did not occur, as a result of Joshua Karty’s additional level acquired blocked.
The block by the 49ers stored the rating knotted at 20 with 10:39 left within the recreation. The Rams discipline aim group has had a significant issue with safety this yr. This additional level try marked the third time since Week 3 that Karty has had a kick blocked and the painful half is that each one three blocks have come within the fourth quarter.
Karty additionally missed a 53-yard discipline aim within the recreation, so particular groups price the Rams a complete of 4 factors.
Kyren Williams‘ fumble within the fourth quarter
With simply 2:52 left to play and the Rams trailing 23-20, Los Angeles took over possession at its personal 35-yard line with an opportunity to tie or win the sport.
Matthew Stafford rapidly drove the Rams into scoring place on a drive the place he accomplished two passes for 29 yards. After a 20-yard run from Kyren Williams, the Rams rapidly discovered themselves on the cusp of scoring a potential go-ahead landing with a first-and-goal at San Francisco’s 3-yard line. Nevertheless, they ended up getting ZERO factors on the drive as a result of Williams fumbled the ball away on the 1-yard line.
The fumble was pressured by 49ers rookie Alfred Collins who threw an ideal punch on the soccer to knock it free. If Williams had scored a landing, it will have put the Rams up 27-23 with simply 1:05 left to play, however as an alternative, the 49ers took over possession at their very own 1-yard line.
The Rams did pressure a three-and-out on the following 49ers’ drive and Stafford then rapidly drove his group into discipline aim vary to pressure time beyond regulation after Karty nailed a 48-yard kick.
Errant kickoff to begin time beyond regulation
Karty did not get to have fun his game-tying discipline aim for very lengthy, as a result of, on the primary play of time beyond regulation, he made a brutal mistake. When Karty kicks off, he usually hits a knuckleball and that had been working properly all evening till the sport acquired to time beyond regulation. Within the additional session, Karty acquired penalized as a result of his kickoff did not make it to the touchdown zone. The penalty set the 49ers up with the ball at their 40-yard line.
From there, the 49ers did not should drive very far to get in discipline aim vary. Mac Jones ended up taking them 37 yards to arrange Eddy Pinero’s 41-yard discipline aim that proved to be the game-winning factors.
Sean McVay admits his ‘poor’ play name price his group the sport
Beneath this yr’s time beyond regulation guidelines, each groups are assured one possession, so the 49ers needed to kickoff to the Rams after Piniero’s discipline aim. The Rams took over at their very own 33-yard line and Stafford instantly drove them 56 yards right down to San Francisco’s 11-yard line, the place they ultimately confronted a fourth-and-1.
At that time, Rams coach Sean McVay had two choices: He might kick the sphere and tie up the sport or he might go for the primary down. The normally conservative coach determined to go for it and that call backfired after he referred to as a run up the center.
Williams by no means had an opportunity.
After the sport, McVay was requested in regards to the play name and he was clearly annoyed with himself.
“The play choice was very poor,” McVay stated. “I am sick proper not as a result of I put our gamers in a shitty spot and I’ve to stay with that.”
Stafford was on hearth within the fourth quarter and time beyond regulation, throwing for a complete of 194 yards. The Rams had a six-play drive in time beyond regulation and the primary 5 performs had been all passes. With Stafford taking part in so properly, it most likely would have made sense to place the ball in his fingers, however McVay had Williams run up the center.
If you would like our full takeaways from the 49ers win, we have got these right here.
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