SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Kicker Robbie Gould's 33-yard field goal as time expired delivered the Rams (8-7) a 34-31 loss to the 49ers (12-3) Saturday night at Levi's Stadium.
Los Angeles running back Todd Gurley finished with 15 for 48 yards and two touchdowns. His first gave him 13 on the season, becoming the first player in franchise history to reach that mark in three consecutive seasons. His two touchdowns also moved him into a tie with Marshall Faulk for most rushing scores in Rams history.
Tight end Tyler Higbee finished with nine receptions for 104 yards for his fourth consecutive 100-yard receiving game, becoming only the fourth tight end to accomplish that feat in the Super Bowl era, joining Travis Kelce, Jimmy Graham (twice), and Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez, according to NFL Research. Wide receiver Robert Woods had eight receptions for a team-high 117 yards, his third time in four weeks with over 100 yards from scrimmage.
Defensively, cornerback Jalen Ramsey notched his first interception as a Ram, while cornerback Darious Williams recorded his first career interception.
Similar to the first time the two teams played this season, the Rams mounted a strong opening drive. Goff found Cooks for a 10-yard touchdown pass to put them up 7-0 early.
The momentum from the fast start was short-lived, however, as an 81-yard return on the ensuing kickoff set up the 49ers at the Rams 18 yard line. Thanks to a pass breakup in the endzone on the third and goal from the eight by linebacker Cory Littleton, Los Angeles held San Francisco to a 26-yard field goal by Gould to make it 7-3 L.A. with 8:35 left in the first quarter.
Late in the first quarter, Ramsey intercepted 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and set up the Rams at their own 37.
Nine plays later, Gurley punched it in from five yards out to extend the Rams' lead to 14-3 at the beginning of the second quarter. However, the 49ers would answer with a 19-yard touchdown run by wide receiver Deebo Samuel to cut the Rams' lead to four.
The two teams would trade touchdowns again, a 1-yard run by Gurley followed by a 16-yard run by Mostert to make it 21-17 with 2:21 left in the first half.
A 46-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Fred Warner gave San Francisco a 24-21 halftime lead. Cornerback Darious Williams snagged L.A.'s second interception at the start of the second half, but the ensuing offensive possession ended with a missed 52-yard field goal attempt by kicker Greg Zuerlein.
Behind a key defensive stop from midfield, the Rams later made up for the missed field goal with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Goff to Kupp to retake the lead 28-24 with 5:06 left in the third quarter.
The 49ers regained the lead 31-28 on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Garoppolo to tight end George Kittle, a scoring drive with 6:06 left set up a 36-yard catch by Kittle and 25-yard grab by fellow tight end Ross Dwelley. A 52-yard field goal by Zuerlein on the ensuing drive tied the game 31-31 with 2:30 left.
San Francisco converted twice on third and long on the game-winning drive thanks to an 18-yard catch by wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and a 46-yard catch by wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. It was Sanders' grab that put the 49ers within field goal range to clinch the victory.
