49ers-Rams: Quick hits from San Francisco's Week 2 win
The 49ers survived a scare in their Week 2 game with the Rams, coming back from 17-10 down in the second quarter. Los Angeles made it tough for San Francisco as the Rams continued to display the offensive firepower that was key to their surprise Week 1 win over the Seahawks. But the 49ers produced […]
The 49ers survived a scare in their Week 2 game with the Rams, coming back from 17-10 down in the second quarter.
Los Angeles made it tough for San Francisco as the Rams continued to display the offensive firepower that was key to their surprise Week 1 win over the Seahawks.
But the 49ers produced a well-executed two-minute drive to go into the half tied 17-17 and made several key stops in the second half to pull out a 10-point fourth-quarter lead that proved too much for Los Angeles to overcome.
Here are the quick hit takeaways from the 49ers' 30-23 win, which is their ninth straight over the Rams in the regular season and improves San Francisco to 2-0.
Tale of two halves for the defense
The 49er defense struggled in the first half, allowing three scoring drives totaling 198 yards for the Rams.
San Francisco was more stout thereafter, giving up just six points in the second half and getting consistent pressure on Matthew Stafford, who had been virtually untouched in the first, and forcing two critical turnovers that resulted in six points.
Deommodore Lenoir's interception essentially served as the dagger that left Los Angeles facing a huge uphill climb.
However, the opening two quarters indicated that maintaining the dominance the defense enjoyed under DeMeco Ryans with new coordinator Steve Wilks will not be as straightforward as it appeared it might be in the season-opening win over the Steelers.
Oliver comes up big
The 49ers may have had no answer to the Rams' offense in the first half, but they started the second with three successive stops, the first two of which came from nickel corner Isaiah Oliver.
Oliver made a key third-down tackle on Kyren Williams to force a punt on the Rams' first offensive series of the second half and then, with Los Angeles threatening to score, picked off Stafford after a drop by Williams.
The former Falcons corner had one last trick in his bag, knifing into the backfield on fourth and short to help the 49ers drop Williams in the backfield for a one-yard loss, extinguishing the Rams' last realistic chance of producing a comeback.
It was a banner day for a player who received a lot of criticism for his play in preseason.
Purdy not at his best
Brock Purdy finished 17 of 25 for 206 yards. A respectable stat line that indicates a largely faultless display.
Purdy, who snuck in for a rushing touchdown at the end of the first half, displayed much of the poise that has been an overriding feature of his remarkable rise, continually making tough throws under pressure.
At the same time, Purdy left plenty of points on the field, overthrowing Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel on deep shots that all could have resulted in touchdowns.
And Purdy would likely be the first to admit that he received a lot of help from his receivers today, with Kittle and Samuel each making some outstanding adjustments to the ball and Jennings coming up with a 31-yard contested catch.
Samuel produced the offensive play of the game with his winding 11-yard touchdown run, illustrating the point that this was a game in which the 49ers' skill players elevated the quarterback, rather than the other way around.
49ers-Rams: Observations from an entertaining first half
The Niners dealt with uncharacteristic issues.
Featured Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
