Brandon Aiyuk

49ers Stun⁣ Rams with Overtime Stop in 26-23⁢ Victory

The San Francisco 49ers pulled off a stunning 26-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, securing ‌the win with a crucial ⁢defensive ⁣stop on fourth-and-1 ‍in overtime. ⁤The 49ers entered the game significantly ⁢depleted, missing key players including Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall, ‍Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Nick⁣ Bosa.

Despite the absences, ⁢San Francisco ⁣jumped to an early‌ lead. Jake Tonges scored a touchdown, and Christian McCaffrey added another‌ on a reception, giving the⁤ 49ers a ​14-0 advantage early ‌in the second​ quarter. mccaffrey, ⁤coming off a 31-touch performance against Jacksonville just four days prior, ⁢was a focal point of the 49ers’ offensive strategy.⁤ A Rams fumble recovered by the 49ers further​ fueled ​the momentum, making it⁣ appear as‍ though the Rams were the team​ battling injuries.

The Rams managed to score late⁢ in ⁣the second quarter, but ⁢a ‌subsequent 49ers field‍ goal extended their lead to 17-7 at halftime. ⁣

The Rams mounted⁣ a comeback in the second half, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford. Puka Nacua ⁢scored a touchdown, followed by a second touchdown catch from Tutu Atwell, tying the game at 20-20 in the fourth quarter. However, the extra point attempt was missed, leaving the score tied.

A 59-yard field goal by Eddy⁢ Pineiro with⁤ 2:52 remaining gave ⁣the 49ers a 23-20 lead. the Rams responded with a drive that reached the 10-yard line, but a crucial strip-sack by defensive lineman​ Alfred collins dislodged the ball from Kyren Williams just before he crossed the‌ goal line, with⁣ Collins recovering at the 1-yard line.

Despite the turnover, the Rams still had all​ three timeouts. the‌ 49ers were forced ‍to punt after a short, three-play drive. Stafford converted a fourth down with ⁣a 13-yard⁢ pass to Williams, setting‍ up⁣ a‍ game-tying 38-yard field ⁣goal by Joshua‍ Karty‍ to send the⁢ game into overtime.

Overtime began with a lucky break for​ the​ 49ers, as the kickoff did not reach the end zone, ‌giving them possession ⁣at their own 40-yard line. After‍ their drive stalled,⁣ Pineiro kicked a field goal off the upright to regain ​the lead.

The Rams quickly moved into ​field-goal range, but⁣ on a fourth-and-1 attempt, the 49ers’ defense stuffed Williams for ⁤no gain, securing the victory.‌ The win sparked a celebratory atmosphere rarely seen during the regular season, a testament to the 49ers’ resilience in ⁤the face of adversity.