Rams pull out tough win over 49ers, whose slim playoff hopes likely go down the drain

Deebo Samuel has had a very quiet season. He complained this week about not getting the ball on social media.

The San Francisco 49ers clearly made it a point to target him more, and on one key third down in the second half Thursday night, Brock Purdy hit him in stride with a pass that probably should have been a touchdown. In any previous season of his career, Samuel would have taken that to the end zone. We’ve seen it many times before.

And Samuel dropped Purdy’s perfect pass. Plain and simple. You can’t complain about not getting the ball, then have it bounce off your hands when it comes your way in a key spot.

If there’s something to sum up the 2024 49ers, that play was it. A star player from the past, having a surprisingly bad season, had the chance to be the hero. And the ball went right through his hands.

The 49ers are back to two games under .500 after a loss to the Los Angeles Rams, who are right in the NFC West with an ugly but important 12-6 win. Purdy struggled, and a crucial fourth-quarter interception with the 49ers in range for a long field goal practically ended San Francisco’s chances. It probably ended their slim chances at the playoffs, too.

The Rams were a little tougher on Thursday night. They executed better. Like the rest of the 49ers’ lost season, when they should have been competing for a Super Bowl title, they were a disappointment.

Scoring was hard to come by

Here were the results of all the possessions in the first quarter by both teams: punt, punt, field goal, punt, punt, punt, punt, punt. The one decent drive and points came from only the 49ers, who led 3-0 after the first quarter. It was the first time a Sean McVay team ever started a game with four straight drives without a first down, according to Amazon Prime Video’s broadcast.

In other words, it was the type of Thursday night game viewers complain about when they talk about teams playing below their standards on short rest.

Puka Nacua (17) and the Los Angeles Rams did just…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/live/rams-pull-out-tough-win-over-49ers-whose-slim-playoff-hopes-likely-go-down-the-drain-000047527.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-12-13 00:00:00

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