Rams-49ers takeaways: Backups on offense, clutch defense provide winning kick

The Rams’ Colby Parkinson can’t make the catch before the 49ers’ Deondre Campbell is called for a pass interference penalty that set up the deciding field goal. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers 27-24 on Sunday night at SoFi Stadium.

What we learned from the victory that improved the Rams’ record to 1-2:

Joshua Karty can kick under pressure

The Rams’ Joshua Karty kicks the game-winning field goal. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

The Rams, bedeviled by kicking woes in 2023, used a sixth-round draft pick to select Joshua Karty.

Karty came through with a field goal that pulled the Rams within seven points in the fourth quarter, a game-tying extra point and a 37-yard game-winning field goal.

Karty had been listed as questionable because of a hamstring injury suffered against the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams were so unsure of his status, they signed kicker Tanner Brown to the practice squad at the beginning of last week.

Karty said he “kind of Googled” himself Sunday morning and discovered he was still listed as questionable but he got through pregame warmups and felt better than expected.

“As the game wore on, I think my kicks got a lot better and better,” Karty said. “The extra point at the end, and field goal at the end, those were my best two kicks.”

Read more: Plaschke: What a sight! Rams save their season with awestruck win against 49ers

Karty said that before his final kick, he thought about former Stanford teammate Emmet Kenney, who Friday kicked a game-winning field goal against Syracuse.

“As soon as that happened on Friday, I knew like, ‘How cliché would that be if both of us got game-winning kicks in the same week?’” Karty said. “And it turned out to happen.”

Other special teams players also contributed.

Running back Ronnie Rivers kept alive a first-half scoring drive when he rushed for a first down on a fake punt. Xavier Smith, promoted this week from the practice squad, returned a punt 38 yards to…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-49ers-takeaways-backups-offense-103045092.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2024-09-23 10:30:45

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