The Los Angeles Rams left nothing to chance this time around when they faced off against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. The Rams (7-2) demolished the 49ers (6-4) behind another Matthew Stafford gem and a physical defensive effort. Rams legend summed it up perfectly in his postgame tweet…
LA stormed out to a 21-0 lead in the first half before SF “tried” to make a comeback bid in the early 2nd half. It wasn’t nearly enough with the Rams making significantly more plays on offense and defense to avenge their Week 5 loss against their rival. Which plays sealed the deal? Here were the 5 game-defining plays in Los Angeles’s Week 10 win.
- Nate Landman Forced Fumble, (Rams 14 – 49ers 0), 3:24 left in 1st Quarter
The Rams jumped on the 49ers in the 1st quarter just like SF did to LAR in Week 5. Only this time, when the 49ers tried to throw their own counterpunch, the Rams threw an uppercut of their own. On 2nd & 10 at the LAR 39, Mac Jones thew short to Jaquan Jennings who picked up the first down but Nate Landman (as he typically does) came in for the swarming tackle; using his right arm to dislodge the ball from Jennings. Kam Kinchens scooped up the fumble and returned it to the LAR 41. It was a huge momentum swing and allowed LA to keep their foot on the gas.
2. Byron Young stops Christian McCaffrey on 4th Down, (Rams 21 – 49ers 0), 8:45 left in the 2nd Quarter
3. 4th & 3 conversion from Matthew Stafford to Puka Nacua, (Rams 21 – 49ers 14), 6:20 left in the 3rd Quarter
To open up the 2nd half, San Francisco took the ball down field and scored to draw within one score. Los Angeles got the ball back and drove downfield but encountered some resistance after they crossed the SF 30. After failing to connect with Kyren Williams in the flat on 3rd & 3, Sean McVay decided to go for it on 4th & 3 at SF’s 28. Rather than going up 10 points or risk using his new field goal kicker, McVay put the ball in his best players’ hands: Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua.
4. Davante Adams redzone Touchdown, (Rams 28 – 49ers 14), 2:39 left in the 3rd Quarter
The Rams have found the solution to their early season redzone problems. Stafford and Adams connected for the 6th time in a three game span. The connection has been unbeatable and when the Rams needed to ensure they were going to put their division rivals away, they went to their leading touchdown playmaker.
5. Emmanuel Forbes hauls in Interception, (Rams 35 – 49ers 20), 8:29 left in the 4th Quarter
Once again, every time San Fran tried to counterpunch Los Angeles, the defense met the challenge. On 4th & 4 at the SF 41, Mac Jones tried to go to George Kittle to pick up the first down. Only this time, Emmanuel Forbes timed up the pass; deflected it and hauled in the batted ball for his second interception in his Rams career. The turnover officially put the game on ice as LA tacked on another 7 points via Matthew Stafford’s fourth passing touchdown.
There were a number of other key moments to spotlight:
- Puka Nacua’s 22 yard touchdown via a Matthew Stafford screen pass on 2nd & 10 at SF 22
- Davante Adams 15 yard catch on 3rd & 8 before halftime
- Terrance Ferguson’s 32 yard catch on 1st & 10 at LAR 49
All in all, it was a complete Rams win. Even the special teams had a few positive plays! What were your favorites? Which one do you think changed the game?
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