The Rams gave away Sean McVay bobbleheads to season-ticket holders Sunday.
The collectible figurines, outfitted with a headset, 5 o’clock shadow and McVay’s trademark hair spike, may very well be made to nod up and down, and aspect to aspect.
However solely the real-life McVay — and his supposedly undermanned group — felt the head-spinning actuality of a 27-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium.
“Lot of guts,” McVay mentioned. “Lot of grit.”
With one other 49ers-heavy crowd invading a stadium the San Francisco devoted have dubbed Levi’s South, the Rams despatched the 49ers again to Northern California with a second consecutive defeat.
Rams operating again Kyren Williams scored three touchdowns, quarterback Matthew Stafford engineered two late scoring drives and rookie Joshua Karty kicked the game-winning subject aim with two seconds left to finish a dramatic comeback that improved the Rams’ file to 1-2.
Maybe extra importantly, the Rams prevented falling to a postseason-killing 0-3, a gap the group has not occupied since 2011, when the St. Louis Rams began 0-6 en path to a 2-14 end.
“These are the games where you bring just a little more juice,” mentioned Williams, who rushed for 2 touchdowns and somersaulted into the top zone to finish a landing move play. “These are the games you can’t wait to play, when everybody is doubting you and everybody’s, ‘There’s no way the Rams are going to win. The Rams are going to start 0-3 this season.’
“Like Nah. we’re not listening to that stuff.”
Each groups have been shorthanded due to injured star gamers.
Rams receiver Cooper Kupp is out indefinitely and receiver Puka Nacua, offensive linemen Steve Avila, Joe Noteboom and Jonah Jackson and defensive backs Darious Williams and John Johnson III are on injured reserve.
The 49ers have been with out star operating again Christian McCaffrey, receiver Deebo Samuel and tight finish George Kittle.
That arrange one thing of a chess match between McVay and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, McVay’s mentor throughout their days on the NFL’s Washington employees and his nemesis for many of their eight seasons competing in opposition to one another within the NFC West.
The Rams’ victory was solely the second within the final 11 regular-season video games between the groups.
“It feels really great,” defensive deal with Kobie Turner mentioned, “especially getting that first win versus San Fran.”
The victory was particularly candy for Williams.
After incomes a Professional Bowl invitation in 2023, the third-year professional was stifled in losses in opposition to the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals however he broke out in opposition to a 49ers protection that featured finish Nick Bosa, linebacker Fred Warner and edge rusher Leonard Floyd.
“I wouldn’t let my guys down the way that the last two weeks went,” mentioned Williams, who rushed for 89 yards in 24 carries and caught two passes for 27 yards. “I wasn’t going to let that happen again this week.”
The Rams additionally acquired key performances from gamers normally solid in supporting roles to the injured stars.
Receiver Tutu Atwell drew a pass-interference penalty for an extended acquire, and caught an extended move to arrange the game-tying landing. Xavier Smith, promoted from the observe squad this week, helped arrange the game- successful subject aim with a 38-yard punt return.
The Rams’ Xavier Smith is knocked out of bounds by 49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky after a 38-yard return.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Instances)
A Rams protection that was dominated by the Cardinals per week earlier enabled Brock Purdy and receiver Jauan Jennings to attach for 3 touchdowns. The unit held operating again Jordan Mason beneath 100 yards dashing for the primary time this season, nevertheless, and stopped the 49ers when it counted most to provide the ball again to Stafford twice within the ultimate three minutes.
“Whenever you get stops on defense and you got [No.] 9 at quarterback, you got a shot to win the game,” Turner mentioned.
After falling behind 14-0 within the first quarter, the Rams pulled inside 24-17 within the fourth after Karty kicked his first subject aim.
Shanahan’s determination to have Jake Moody try a 55-yard subject aim backfired when Moody missed broad left, giving Stafford the ball close to midfield.
“Whatever the situation is in the game — up, down, tied, whatever — I try to be the same player,” mentioned Stafford, who accomplished 16 of 26 passes for 221 yards. “There’s no doubt that down in the fourth quarter with the ball in my hand, I’ve got a little extra, you know, heartbeat going.
“But I’m excited about those opportunities. That’s what I want. I want to be in those moments. I feel the guys on our team know that and hopefully they feed off that.”
Rams receiver Tutu Atwell hauls in a 50-yard move behind 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward late within the fourth quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Instances)
Stafford’s 50-yard move to Atwell arrange Williams’ brief landing run and Karty’s tying additional level.
With lower than a minute left, the Rams pressured the 49ers to punt. Smith slipped a deal with after which ran up the best sideline in entrance of the Rams bench to midfield. A pass-interference penalty moved the ball to the 49ers’ 25, and Karty got here on after two extra performs for the game-winning kick.
Like his bobblehead, McVay gave his group’s effort a fist pump.
“I saw a team respond after a really humbling week last week,” he mentioned. “We’ve got to do a good job of being able to build on this.”
