49ers 23 - Rams 20: Wait... a win?
Robbie Gould ices the game with a clutch FG as the 49ers now shift from tank talk to wild card talk in a chaotic season.
(Los Angeles) - This was an unexpected thriller. But it was a good thriller. A herculean effort by the 49ers got them the win, and keeps their slim playoff hopes alive. Robert Saleh can point to this masterpiece of a defensive performance in his job interviews, and Kyle Shanahan can add this to the now four straight wins against his friend and enemy in Sean McVay.
The player of the game, without a doubt, was Deebo Samuel. He had 11 receptions on 13 targets for 134 yards, and was gashing the Rams defense all day with yards after the catch. A clutch run after catch on a slant route with about a minute left in the game put the 49ers in field goal range. This is what Samuel can be - a devastating weapon and someone that DBs simply do not like to tackle.
Nick Mullens started off terrible, but as the game went on, clearly began to settle, and ended the game at a respectable 253 yards passing on 68% completion. He had no TDs and threw an interception - but Mullens was able to eke out a win. Don’t let that get your hopes up on Mullens - he threw multiple near interceptions and if those were caught, could have easily swung this game for the Rams.
The run game was not working, and for most of the game, neither was the pass game. But Shanahan went back to his bread and butter of YAC and misdirection, and with Juszczyk and Deebo leading the way, the 49ers got a massive win.
Richard Sherman and Javon Kinlaw were massive, with Sherman racking up multiple breakups and an interception. Kinlaw intercepted Goff off a deflection and took it to the house in a massive momentum changer.
Tarvarius Moore also played well despite missing a bad tackle, and Jimmie Ward had his best game of the season, forcing a fumble and also getting a pass defensed, although getting burned a couple times by Tyler Higbee, the stalwart Rams TE.
The biggest player on defense was none of the above - it was Kerry Hyder Jr, who is quietly setting himself up for a big payday come March. 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, and 4 QB hits. A great performance as Hyder is up to 7.5 sacks on the season.
Unfortunately, two players may have suffered serious injuries. Jamar Taylor went down with what looks to be a nasty knee injury and was carted off. Then, his replacement, Ken Webster, also went down on a punt return coverage with a non-contact injury, clutching his knee - that is never good. He also was carted off, and both are blows to a weakened 49ers secondary that is already missing K’Waun Williams. Saleh must be considering moving Jason Verrett to slot corner, and starting Moseley aside Sherman to aid these injury issues.
Ronald Blair, Weston Richburg, Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle possibly - these guys cannot get back soon enough. The NFC is wide-open, and with two easy games upcoming against the Cowboys and Washington, along with a tough MNF matchup against the Bills… there is a pathway. A very slim pathway. But it exists.
Brandon Aiyuk, Jordan Willis, and others on the COVID19 list will also be welcomed back.
This is a pivotal game. And the 49ers got the win showing fight. Their biggest test comes against the red hot Bills on Monday next week. Til then, go Niners.
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I predicted 23-21. So close
A lot of "massives" in this write-up. Massivivity is our new by-word.