SANTA CLARA — Deebo Samuel’s first-half landing revived the 49ers’ season. Talanoa Hufanga’s second-half landing saved the 49ers’ Monday night time win.
These large performs, by this early season’s final playmakers, had been important to the 49ers’ 24-9 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
Samuel’s majestic 57-yard catch-and-run stretched the 49ers’ halftime result in 14-6, however this 49ers season had already seen second-half leads evaporate in losses at Chicago and Denver.
So, Hufanga made positive that this lead was protected. His 52-yard interception return for a win-clinching rating had the 49ers (2-2) celebrating their seventh straight regular-season win over the Rams, who did win final season’s NFC Championship Sport matchup en path to a Tremendous Bowl triumph.
“It was a cool technique to win,” coach Kyle Shanahan stated. “We knew it could be a battle. To maintain them out of the tip zone was nice.”
The 49ers subsequent head on a 10-day street journey, together with a 3rd annual layover in West Virginia between video games at Charlotte and Atlanta. All 4 groups within the NFC West are 2-2, however the 49ers are the one ones who stand 2-0 in divisional play. That positive is a change of surroundings after flopping on prime time final Sunday in an 11-10 loss at Denver.
This sixth straight house win wasn’t a gimmie.
However as soon as their lead was trimmed to 7-6 within the second quarter, the 49ers wanted a big-time play, and Samuel delivered along with his first landing catch of the season, and he did so in his 2021 All-Professional type.
On third-and-3 from his personal 43, Samuel lined up left, minimize inside, and as soon as Jimmy Garoppolo’s cross barely cleared the interception-seeking Derion Kendrick, Samuel was off and operating — racing 50 yards after the catch. Alongside the best way throughout the sector, he broke tackles (tried by Taylor Rapp and Jalen Ramsey) whereas choosing up blocks from George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk and Brandon Aiyuk.
“I noticed (Kendrick) from the nook of my eye, of him going up,” Samuel stated. “However when it’s simply me and the ball on the market, breaking tackles is one thing I do on a regular basis.”
Mentioned Garoppolo: “I noticed (Kendrick) driving on it, so I simply didn’t need to throw the interception. I type of gave it both a ‘Deebo will get it or nobody will.’ That’s about all I did on the play. Deebo did the remaining. He’s enjoyable to look at.”
Garoppolo and Shanahan famous that whereas the 49ers can financial institution on Samuel making large performs every recreation, he’s particularly potent towards the Rams, reminiscent of two touchdowns in final November’s season-rallying win over the visiting Rams.
The groups then traded discipline objectives after goal-line stands, with the 49ers settling for Robbie Gould’s 25-yard kick after George Kittle almost scored a third-and-goal landing however stepped on the tip line. Gould missed a 42-yard field-goal try with 8:38 remaining, ruining the 49ers’ shot at extending their lead after a 29-yard catch by Samuel on third-and-13.
Then got here Hufanga, a second-year security whose stellar begin to this season went up one other notch along with his second interception this season — the pick-six. He lined up within the slot, then completely timed Matthew Stafford’s cross to Cooper Kupp, a mixture that connected for 14 completions.
That display play is a staple not simply of the Rams’ playbook however the 49ers’, and as Hufanga stated he received tipped off when he noticed a special launch by the Rams’ receivers, he famous: “You may odor a rat in the case of these issues.”
After which, “I turned my head, and the dropped ball in my face, and never going to lie,” Hufanga stated. “I believed Stafford was going to catch me, not going to lie.”
Nickel again Deommodore Lenoir added: “I heard the group screaming and Huf was going the opposite manner. ‘All-Professional Huff’ — I’m going to begin that (marketing campaign) now.”
All of the Rams’ scoring got here by way of three discipline objectives. The 49ers, like their home-opening win over Seattle, scored three touchdowns.
Touting the NFL’s prime protection when it comes to fewest yards allowed, the 49ers racked up seven sacks towards Stafford, with ex-Ram Samson Ebukam’s second sack within the waning minutes leading to a fumble that Kery Hyder Jr. recovered. Nick Bosa additionally had two sacks, whereas Deommodore Lenoir, Charles Omenihu and Hassan Ridgeway had one apiece.
Jeff Wilson Jr. (18 carries, 74 yards) put the 49ers forward 7-3 with a 32-yard landing run on their opening possession. Previous Wilson’s first landing run this season — except for a timeout — was a third-down conversion from Garoppolo to Jauan Jennings. Requested Saturday about probably busting via the Rams’ defensive entrance, Wilson presciently replied: “If that occurs, we’ve received motion ball. You break that first wave man and we’re all trying to hit our head on the objective submit.”
The 49ers stored the early momentum by way of Nick Bosa’s fifth sack this season. Lining up on the suitable fringe of a 5-man rush, Bosa twisted to come back up the center. His second sack got here on a Stafford scramble.
The Rams’ first drive chewed up the sport’s first eight minutes and penetrated the 49ers’ purple zone. A second-down sack by former Rams linebacker Ebukam dropped Stafford for a 10-yard loss. Stafford was 7-of-7 for 52 yards on the opening stanza, with Cooper Kupp catching three targets for 27 yards.
Not solely had the 49ers misplaced a key offensive starter to a big damage in every of their first three video games — operating again Elijah Mitchell (knee), quarterback Trey Lance (ankle), left deal with Trent Williams (ankle) — they dominated out defensive deal with Javon Kinlaw after a pregame exercise didn't ease their considerations over his surgically repaired knee. Kinlaw, who turned 25 on Monday, was stored out of two practices final week.
Williams’ substitute, Colton McKivitz, exited within the third quarter with a knee damage, shifting Jaylon Moore in as Garoppolo’s blind-side protector.
Defensive deal with Arik Armstead additionally left prematurely, although he suited up and battled via a plantar fasciitis challenge in his proper foot, an damage that sidelined him final recreation and ended a 73-start streak.
In one other offensive line transfer, the 49ers opened the second quarter by inserting Daniel Brunskill at proper guard for his season debut. Brunskill, who’s earned a glowing status for earlier matchups with Aaron Donald, changed rookie Spencer Burford.