The 49ers' lead was extended by Deebo Samuel when he ran 57 yards for a touchdown. Affirmative.
The defense of the 49ers needed some help in their two losses this season. What was really needed was a lot of help from Deebo Samuel.
The Niners' previously struggling offense got the spark it needed from Samuel, who sparked the offense with a 57-yard touchdown reception and went on to six catches, 115 yards. The Niners have beaten the Rams seven times in a row in the regular season. The 49ers moved to 2-2 on the season and 2-0 in the west.
Samuel's 57-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter included 51 yards after catch over expectation. The 83-yard catch he made in a Week 8 win against the Chicago Bears was the second most on any pass play for the Niners. Samuel ran for 79.7 yards.
In the first three weeks of the season, the Niners' second-year strong safety looked like an emerging star with his fearless, attacking style and better-than-his-40-time coverage skills. Hufanga made a big statement in front of a national audience Monday night, stepping in front of a short Matthew Stafford throw and running 52 yards for the game-sealing touchdown. It looks like the Niners' defense will need room for one more.
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said it would take some time to find a rhythm. Garoppolo definitely improved from Week 3 to Week 4. Garoppolo missed some throws he needs to make, but he was mostly on time and got rid of the ball quickly behind the offensive line. He had zero turnovers in a game that could have gone either way. He had a passer rating of 100.7.
The first points the 49ers have allowed on their first defensive possession of the season have been scored by the Rams. It was the first time this season that the 49ers have given up a point in the first quarter. The last team to give up a first quarter point was them.
The next game is at the Carolinas. It's Sunday.
After the Los Angeles Rams' Week 3 victory, Sean McVay said that the offense was still figuring out who they were. The Rams didn't find the end zone against the 49ers in their loss on Monday.
For the second week in a row, Matthew Stafford did not throw a touchdown, but this time, Los Angeles' offense couldn't do enough to win. Stafford had an interception and a fumbled the ball. Cooper Kupp had 14 catches for 122 yards, as the offense once again ran through him. The Rams had only two players with more than three catches.
After allowing seven sacks in the season opener, the Rams' offensive line held their own in the next two weeks. Stafford was sacked seven times against the 49ers. It was his second most pressured since joining the Rams. After center Coleman Shelton left the game with an ankle injury, the Rams were down to their third-string center.
The biggest hole in the game plan is stopping Samuel. Samuel has scored at least one touchdown against the Rams in each of the last five seasons. That is tied for the most by any player against any team since the beginning of last season. The biggest play of the game was when Samuel evaded several Rams tacklers and ran for the touchdown. Samuel had two runs for 29 or more yards. The Rams have a lot of that distance.
There have been three screen passes thrown in the past three seasons across the league, but Stafford's pick-six was the only one in that time.
The next game is against the Cowboys. It's Sunday.
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