Injuries having weakened the team, San Francisco had to rely on tough grit and opportunistic defence to edge the Los Angeles Rams, 26-23, in overtime. The climax came with San Francisco denying the Rams a crucial 4th-and-1 on their 11-yard line, thus sealing the hard-fought victory.
Overall, the San Francisco 49ers were beset by injuries; the major ones included Nick Bosa, the edge rushers, key wide receivers, and Brock Purdy, the quarterback. That absence loomed great over a game already loaded with NFC West implications. Even with the shortcomings, backup Mac Jones arranged a bold performance, tossing for 342 yards and two touchdowns while limping across what seemed to be a leg injury.
Receiver Kendrick Bourne went off with 10 catches for 142 yards, the finest of his career. Shouldering the attack was Christian McCaffrey, who had 139 total yards and a rushing touchdown. Not to count out the Rams, though, they staged a comeback in the fourth quarter. Coming 20-7 late, they orchestrated a comeback propelled by Matthew Stafford’s 389 air yards and two scoring passes to Kyren Williams. But momentum slipped when Williams fumbled near the goal with just over a minute remaining, therefore denying a go-ahead score.
The Los Angeles Rams forced a punt, then tied the game with a 48-yard field goal from Joshua Karty, sending the game to overtime. San Francisco won the overtime coin toss and strode within field goal range. Eddy Pineiro delivered the 41-yard game-winner after the ball bounced off the upright. But the ultimate play came on defense: the 49ers smothered Williams on 4th-and-1; corners Marques Sigle and Deommodore Lenoir among those credited for the decisive stand.
San Francisco had climbed atop the NFC West to 4-1 once the dust settled. Head coach Kyle Shanahan praised his team’s mental fortitude, pointing to the game as a character victory. Rams coach Sean McVay, on the other hand, described his choice to attempt it on 4th–1 as “a difficult defeat” and admitted accountability for placing his side there.