Rams’ loss to 49ers ‘frustrating’

Inglewood, CA (News4usOnline) – For the Los Angeles Rams, there is no real spin on the team’s 26-23 overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers during a Thursday Night Football game. Perhaps the best way to describe the Rams’ second defeat on the season would be disheartening. 

“I think disappointed would be the word that comes to mind,” Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua said after the game. “I think that would be the feeling that everyone feels from here.”

At one point of the contest, the Rams were down two touchdowns. They battled back to eventually tie the ballgame and maneuvered themselves into position to win. That outcome failed to materialize because of some self-inflicted wounds the Rams committed. 

In a hypothetical world, the Rams should be 5-0 and riding off into a couple of days off of well-deserved rest after playing against the 49ers. In reality, the Rams are 3-2 after falling to their NFC West Division rivals. 

“Ultimately, it’s my responsibility. We weren’t ready to go,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. “There were a lot of guys that gave us chances. But I’m really disappointed while also excited about being able to use this as an opportunity to be able to respond. Right now, it doesn’t feel good.”

There is no easy way to swallow a tough defeat. There is no magic formula to make all the blemishes on this loss go away. 

A turnover at the goal line late in the game, a blocked extra point attempt, a missed field goal, penalties, and a lack of execution on a failed fourth down call in overtime were major contributors to the Rams absorbing their second defeat of the season.

“It’s frustrating,” said tight end Davis Allen. “You work hard throughout the week to give yourself a chance. It’s frustrating when things don’t go your way, for sure.”

Highlighting the teamwide exasperation around the turn of events in the game was the play of running back Kyren Williams. Williams gave a gritty, if not spectacular performance against the 49ers, catching eight passes out of the backfield for 66 yards and two touchdowns. 

He also added another 65 yards on the ground on 14 carries. The one blemish, though, on his otherwise stellar game, was his fumble at the goal line late in the fourth quarter as the Rams tried unsuccessfully to move in to take the lead. 

For Williams, the finality of the play was gut-wrenching. 

“I feel like I let the team down at the one-yard line, you know, not securing the one thing that matters,” Williams said.   

The slow start, finish strong theme worked in Sunday’s victory against the Indianapolis Colts. That formula appeared it would be successful for a second straight game, but it was not to be, despite the mercurial effort of quarterback Matthew Stafford. 

Stafford completed 30 of 47 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns against a tight San Francisco defense. If there was one message he’d have for his teammates, it would be that things, sometimes bad, happen during the course of a football game. 

“Football is an imperfect game,” Stafford said. “You’re not going to have a perfect game. Everybody’s [going to] make mistakes in every single phase and every week probably. [We need to] minimize those and make sure that they’re not tough on us as they were tonight. We battled our ass off.” 

As the Rams were trying to get in sync offensively in a slow-moving first half where they were down 14-0 at one point before going into halftime, trailing 17-7, the defense had a heck of a time trying to figure out 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones. 

With starter Brock Purdy out, Jones completed 33 of 49 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns. The Rams defense registered just one sack of Purdy and recorded zero turnovers against the 49ers. 

Rams edge rusher Byron Young said best way for the team to get over this stingy defeat is to learn from their mistakes and move on. 

“Just adversity…something that we’re used to. You know, it happened last year,” Young said. “Just got to learn from it, build on this. At the same time, like I said, it hurts. We’ve got three days off…got to regroup.”