If this was the 49ers’ swan song in California for the season, they went out in victorious fashion, rallying for a 23-20 upset Sunday over the host Los Angeles Rams.
Robbie Gould’s 42-yard field goal won it as time expired, only after Kyle Juszczyk converted on a fourth-and-1 run and Deebo Samuel capped his 134-yard receiving day with key catches on the winning drive.
It was only the 49ers’ fifth win in 11 games. Most pertinent, it was their fourth on the road, which is where they’ll likely remain through December for a daunting playoff chase.
A day earlier, Santa Clara County announced a sports ban that prevents the 49ers from hosting games and even practices because of COVID-19 precautions. The 49ers and NFL have yet to announce relocation plans, which could lead to refuge at the Arizona Cardinals’ or Dallas Cowboys’ stadiums.
“Right now we don’t have a home. Right now we don’t know where we’re going to be,” running back Raheem Mostert said.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said he’s “not sure” where the 49ers go from here, but he expressed extreme discontent about the county springing its ban on them Saturday just before they flew to Los Angeles. “You guys want to know the answers, so do our wives and everyone that knows us,” Shanahan said.
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Defense undoubtedly keyed Sunday’s road win. Jimmie Ward forced two fumbles, Richard Sherman made a first-quarter interception in his long-awaited comeback and rookie Javon Kinlaw swiftly returned an interception for a touchdown and 14-3 lead just after halftime.
Mostert (touchdown run) and Samuel made impressive returns after multi-game absences, helping offset Nick Mullens’ mixed day throwing the ball in his fourth start in place of Jimmy Garoppolo. Mullens’ moxie came through in the fourth quarter, however, as he led a drive to put the 49ers in position for Gould’s winning kick.
This was the 49ers’ fourth straight win over the Rams, who entered the game at 7-3 and tied atop the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks. It was the Rams’ first loss at SoFi Stadium.
The 49ers (5-6) are scheduled to play their next two at home, but that won’t be at Levi’s Stadium because of the Santa Clara County ban, which goes into effect Monday. The Arizona Cardinals’ and the Dallas Cowboys’ stadiums are reportedly the most likely spots for the 49ers to seek refuge. The 49ers are set to play at Dallas on Dec. 20 and at Arizona on Dec. 26 or 27.
Here are the highs, lows and all you need to know for this game:
DEEBO DOMINATES: Deebo Samuel’s return from a three-game absence brought an immediate spark, along with it a revival of the “Deadpool” package, in which Samuel took short tosses in backfield and raced through the Rams’ secondary. That keyed the 49ers’ win last month over the Rams, and it sparked the 49ers’ initial scoring drive Sunday.
This time, Samuel again did so much damage in the open field. His back-to-back receptions of 24 and 7 yards got the 49ers to the Rams’ 40 in the final minute of regulation, and his 11th catch (on 13 targets) raised his total to 134 yards. He had 83 yards after contact, the most by a receiver this year, according to Pro Football Focus.
“I can’t tell you how good Deebo was today,” Shanahan said. “I always mess with him because I’m a soft compliment guy, so Deebo’s got a lot to work on, but he’s one of the best football players I’ve been around.”
KINLAW SCORES: Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw gave the 49ers a 14-3 lead when he returned his first career interception 27 yards for his first career touchdown. It’s the play of the year for the 49ers’ top draft pick, who, last game, recorded his first career sack (actually 1 1/2 in the Nov. 15 loss at New Orleans).
“I was really supposed to be rushing. Something made me drop in coverage,” Kinlaw said. “I saw the ball come out and said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to the crib.’ ”
It came on the Rams’ second snap after halftime, and it came with a big assist to Kevin Givens for hitting Goff as he wallowed in the pocket. Kinlaw had a convoy of blockers on his return: Kerry Hyder Jr., Emmanuel Moseley, Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner.
GOULD’S STREAKS: Robbie Gould made eight consecutive field-goal attempts (in an eight-game stretch) before missing a 50-yarder wide right just before halftime. But then he connected on a 46, 44 and finally 42 yards.
RAMS COUNTER: The Rams finished the third quarter in a flurry to pull within 17-13, and no play charged them up more than Troy Hill’s 20-yard touchdown return of a fumble created by Aaron Donald, who slid past right tackle Mike McGlinchey to rob Mostert. It was the 49ers’ first snap after a Rams’ field goal.
On the 49ers’ next snap/series, Donald again beat McGlinchey to sack Mullens, sparking a three-and-out. That third-quarter rally ended with Cam Akers’ 61-yard run to the 49ers’ 7-yard line, then Akers erased the 49ers’ lead with a 1-yard touchdown run with 14:17 to go.
Goff, a Marin native and Cal product, finished 19-of-31 for 198 yards with the two interceptions for his fourth straight loss against the 49ers.
MOSTERT’S COMEBACK: Mostert and Wilson each ran for 43 yards in their return from multi-game absences due to high ankle sprains. Mostert put the 49ers ahead with an 8-yard, first-quarter touchdown run. It was his second touchdown run of the season, the other coming in Week 2, before a knee sprain led to a two-game absence. Mostert was out the past four games with a high ankle sprain. His third-quarter fumble was vital to the Rams’ rally. Jerick McKinnon had three carries for 20 yards, plus two receptions for 11 yards.
WARD ROBS RAMS: Jimmie Ward forced two Rams fumbles in the first half, after recording none in his previous 73 regular-season games. His second forced fumble, on a Jared Goff run to the 49ers’ 36-yard line, was critical in preventing the Rams from tying or erasing the 49ers’ 7-3 lead. The Rams entered with a 32-0 record when leading at halftime under coach Sean McVay. Ward also excelled in coverage, such as on a third-down incompletion that forced the Rams to settle for their second field goal.
JUDGING MULLENS: Mullens was at his best on a fourth-quarter drive that resulted in a game-tying, 44-yard field goal from Robbie Gould. Mullens was 5-of-5 for 45 yards on that drive (key play: 20-yard catch by Kyle Juszczyk) before a dangerous incompletion over middle on third down to McKinnon.
Mullens passed for 253 yards (24-of-35) for a 77.4 passer rating with no touchdowns and one interception. He avoided other interceptions only after Rams defensive backs Darious Williams and Josh Johnson dropped second-half passes.
“I was real impressed with Nick today,” Shanahan said. “It’s not an easy position at all to go against that defense, the whole scheme and especially No. 99 (Aaron Donald). Nick’s tough, keeps battling and keeps coming back.
“That pick he had was just unfortunate on the tip but he never went into a shell. He kept letting it rip and made enough plays for us to win the game.”
While a first-quarter deflection resulted in an interception, several other players weren’t exactly reassuring from Mullens. In the second quarter, he drew a delay-of-game penalty on third-and-2 before overthrowing an open Jordan Reed for a would-be first down.
EARLY TAKEAWAYS: The 49ers’ first-quarter defense produced a fumble recovery and an interception on the Rams’ opening three possessions. The 49ers’ offense, however, quickly committed turnovers after each.
First, Ward forced a Malcolm Brown fumble near midfield and it was recovered by Kevin Givens, who made a tackle for a 3-yard loss earlier on that Rams’ opening possession. The 49ers gave the ball back four snaps later, when a Mullens pass got deflected by Aaron Donald and intercepted by Jordan Fuller at the Rams’ 27.
The Rams converted that turnover into points, albeit a Matt Gay field goal once Goff’s third-down pass sailed incomplete and spoiled a 6-for-6, 69-yard start. After Richard Sherman’s 36th career interception, the 49ers promptly gave the ball back when Jeff Wilson got stripped in the backfield at the Rams’ 45 by Sebastian Joseph-Day.
SHERMAN’S RETURN: Out nine games to recover from a calf injury in the opener, Sherman returned in spectacular fashion, and not just with a first-quarter interception. He made a team-high seven tackles, including one for loss, and he provided veteran presence for a secondary missing safety Jaquiski Tartt, as well as nickel back Jamar Taylor (knee) after halftime.
Sherman said of his comeback: “It felt good. This is the game I love. I’ve been playing it for gosh dang 25 years. You miss it. Sometimes an absence and injury can bring back fire and passion for the game, and it’s humbling.”
He left his boasting to sump on behalf of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, a hot prospect to become a head coach.
“You’ve got to give Robert Saleh an abundance of credit, an unusual amount of credit, and he’s not getting enough here but around the league,” Sherman said. “To lose so many (defenders) and have guys who can’t practice, week after week, he never makes an excuse. We’re still a top-five defense in almost all categories.
“I expect him to be a head coach for what he can do. He’s a leader of men. That goes a long way.”
SACK WATCH: Hyder notched two sacks to raise his team-high total to 7 1/2. His second Sunday came midway through the fourth quarter and slowed the Rams’ momentum. Hyder also recovered a fumble Ward forced.
“I wanted to really solidify myself as a starter in this league,” Hyder said of his 2020 goals. “I’ve gotten an opportunity and really am trying to make the most of it.”
COVID-19 CASES: Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and defensive tackle D.J. Jones were the only starters still on the COVID-19 reserve list. Two reserves, defensive end Jordan Willis and tight end Daniel Helm, are on a list that ballooned to include nine 49ers last Monday. Left tackle Trent Williams and defensive lineman Arik Armstead started after coming off the list last week, and Kinlaw obviously excelled after coming off COVID-19 reserve Friday.
INJURIES: The 49ers suspect Taylor tore his anterior cruciate ligament when his foot got caught in the turf while being blocked by Malcolm Brown just before halftime. Taylor has been a positive this season filling in for an injured K’Waun Williams. Moseley replaced Taylor, with Sherman and Jason Verrett the outside cornerbacks.
Cornerback Ken Webster hurt his hamstring on fourth-quarter punt coverage. Shanahan reported no other injuries.
NOTES: The 49ers’ halftime lead was their first since their last win, Oct. 25 at New England. … In previous games under Shanahan after bye weeks, the 49ers lost in 2017 and ’18, then won in Week 4 last season. In the playoffs, the 49ers had a wild-card bye before beating Minnesota 27-10, but an extra week of practice didn’t prevent a Super Bowl loss to Kansas City 31-20.
