Niners Nation
The San Francisco 49ers did not get off to the start that they wanted. The Los Angeles Rams did what most teams do on their opening drive, taking ten plays to score a touchdown, with little resistance.
In what needed to be a game of keep away, the 49ers offense went three-and-out on its first possession. Kyle Shanahan was able to put makeup on a pig for nearly three months, but at some point, reality was going to hit.
On the ensuing Rams’ drive, they only needed seven plays to march 86 yards. Just over three minutes later, the Rams had a 14-0 lead.
Jauan Jennings had a drop on the first drive. Some fans wanted a pass interference call, but no flag was thrown. Jennings had a pre-snap penalty to begin the second drive. He found a way to top both of those blunders a few plays later, when Jennings fumbled the ball, just as Kyle Shanahan looked as though he was getting into a groove.
The 49ers defense got the Rams into a third-down situation, but a 1-on-1 matchup between Puka Nacua and Upton Stout went as expected on 3rd & 6. By the end of the first quarter, the Rams were on the fringe of the red zone for the third time in as many drives. One play later, Los Angeles had a goal-to-go situation.
With another opportunity to force a third down, two defenders inexplicably ran after Matthew Stafford, leaving the tight end uncovered in the end zone. Stafford did not miss, and the Rams took a commanding 21-0 lead.
Ben Bartch took over for Spencer Burford at left guard on the third drive. George Kittle’s second reception put the 49ers into scoring position, and Brian Robinson’s carry put the offense in the red zone on a nifty play-call from Shanahan.
The drive would come down to 4th & 1, but Christian McCaffrey would be stopped in the backfield after Luke Farrell could not hold his block.
The defense finally stopped the Rams on the fourth drive. On third down, Jason Pinnock came in for a linebacker, and that ended up being the difference. Skyy Moore followed that up with an impressive punt return, and the Niners were once again in business.
George Kittle made an impossible catch on fourth down, and Mac Jones found Jennings wide open while taking a hit to make it 21-7. If the defense could get a stop and the offense the ball back before the half, we’d have ourselves a ballgame again — if.
The 49ers had an opportunity to get off the field, but Jason Pinnock wasn’t as fortunate this time around. But Saleh and the defense sped Stafford up on the ensuing third down to the point where Renardo Green had a near interception. Nonetheless, the defense got a stop, and the offense had a chance to add points.
A penalty ended that opportunity, but you saw the 49ers take some momentum into halftime, and they’d receive the...
