SANTA CLARA — Right here is how the 49ers (6-8) graded of their 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams (8-6) at Levi’s Stadium on Thursday night time:
PASS OFFENSE: F
Brock Purdy irrevocably heaved a fourth-quarter cross that was intercepted on the purpose line, serving because the offense’s demise knell. The 49ers had been on the 33-yard line on second-and-10 when Purdy bypassed two wide-open receivers — Ricky Pearsall and Patrick Taylor Jr., each on the 30-yard line — and overthrew Jauan Jennings amid double protection down the proper sideline with 5 minutes to go. “Something we’ve kind of seen on film. He likes to run curl pumps,” Darious Williams mentioned of his interception.
Jennings caught 2-of-9 targets (31 yards). The 49ers had been too intent on forcing Deebo Samuel right into a playmaker function after this previous week’s gripes about scarce alternatives. That tactic nearly paid off, till Samuel dropped a third-quarter cross that will have resulted within the sport’s solely landing. Samuel had simply 16 yards on three catches and 6 targets. Kyle Shanahan additionally rued one other potential huge completion, when Purdy underthrew an open Pearsall three snaps earlier than the interception. Honest or not contemplating the first-half rain, Purdy didn’t assist his bad-weather historical past, finishing 14-of-31 for 142 yards, with 61 yards going to workforce MVP George Kittle.
RUN OFFENSE: D+
Averaging solely 3.3 yards per carry isn’t any solution to transfer the ball in a field-goal struggle. Credit score to Isaac Guerendo for taking part in by means of Sunday’s foot sprain and ending with a 10-yard run on his next-to-last carry; he acquired stopped for no achieve on his ultimate run, previous the interception. Samuel ran for simply 2- and 1-yard beneficial properties on his solely carries, each within the first-quarter pressure job. The blocking wasn’t distinctive, except for the Purdy Plunge for a 3-yard achieve on third-and-1 on their ultimate scoring drive.
PASS DEFENSE: C-
The 49ers may have intercepted Matthew Stafford a number of instances, together with Deommodore Lenoir and Talanoa Hufanga on third-down throws within the first two collection. Charvarius Ward allowed a 51-yard catch to Puka Nacau to open the Rams’ go-ahead scoring drive within the fourth quarter; Nacua earlier pinned the ball to the again of Ward’s helmet for an earlier, unbelievable catch. Stafford was not sacked, however Nick Bosa’s return from a three-game absence helped the entrance repeatedly stress Stafford (16-of-27, 160 yards) into overthrows out of bounds. Bosa had three quarterback hits, and Lenoir broke up two passes.
RUN DEFENSE: B
Dre Greenlaw’s season debut was an exhilarating experience, in a optimistic method by means of three quarters and eight tackles. Then got here his exit with leg points, and De’Vondre Campbell’s subsequent refusal to exchange Greenlaw was one of the treacherous misdeeds in 49ers historical past. The 49ers already had been down a linebacker with Dee Winters’ first-half groin damage, and Fred Warner appeared to worsen his season-long ankle subject, thus thrusting Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles to play by means of his personal well being points to the bitter finish. Kyren Williams ran for 108 yards, together with a pair of 9-yard runs by means of a wilting protection on the Rams’ ultimate scoring drive that ate a lot of the ultimate 5 treasured minutes off the clock.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C
As an alternative of obtrusive points like those who triggered their Week 3 loss at Los Angeles, the 49ers’ particular groups had been largely strong, aside from a pair of illegal-formation penalties on punts. Jake Moody made each his field-goal makes an attempt, together with a 53-yarder amid first-half rain for a 3-0 lead. Deebo Samuel’s kick-return exploits lastly kicked in for a 41-yard return within the ultimate seconds, but it surely was too little too late. Kudos to Jacob Cowing for cleanly fielding and returning 5 punts (51 yards).
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COACHING: D
4 days after a 25-point win, the 49ers had been outmatched by the division-rival Rams and primarily ended their playoff pursuit with three video games to go. Kyle Shanahan mentioned there was no intention to overcommit to Deebo Samuel, but it certain appeared prefer it and that backfired on a really poor offensive day. Shanahan and basic supervisor John Lynch have to reshape and revitalize this roster, workers and entrance workplace to ensure they’re again within the playoff hunt in Yr 9 because the Niners’ hierarchy. And so they must kick Campbell off the roster as quickly as Friday’s transaction wire permits.
