Week 10 Recap: Rams destroy 49ers in mid-season rematch
In their division rematch, the Los Angeles Rams grab a 14-point victory over the San Francisco 49ers to solidify their place near the top of the NFC. During Week 5, the 49ers took a dramatic overtime win over the Rams. The NFC West is one of Pro Football Focus’s most competitive divisions, with the Seattle Seahawks sitting atop the division and the 49ers and Rams competing for a Wild Card position.
San Francisco and Los Angeles have a storied rivalry, with both teams winning two of the last four NFC West titles. Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan are also very familiar, having coached together for 4 years in Washington before taking head coaching roles with their respective teams. Shanahan has the upper hand when it comes to head-to-head matchups, but McVay ultimately spoiled his record in Week 10.
Before Sunday’s matchup, both teams were sitting in Wild Card spots, while the Seattle Seahawks rank first in the division. Led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, the Rams have dominated in the passing game. Stafford leads the league in passing touchdowns and is currently USA Today’s betting-favorite for the Most Valuable Player Award.
“He’s just been in total command,” McVay said. “He uses the accumulation of knowledge and experience, and he’s just playing really confident.”
San Francisco’s offense has also shone this season with the return of running back Christian McCaffery. According to StatMuse, McCaffery has the second most yards from scrimmage through Week 10, with 626 rushing yards and almost 700 receiving yards. However, the 49ers struggled to get their offense going on Sunday afternoon.
The Rams’ offense dominated the 49ers’ shorthanded defense throughout their matchup. After losing edge rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner, San Francisco has relied on its offense to lead it to victory. However, Los Angeles scored touchdowns on their first three drives, putting the 49ers in a 21-point deficit early in the second quarter.
San Francisco was able to score before the end of the half, with a touchdown pass from quarterback Mac Jones to wide receiver Jauan Jennings. This touchdown put the score at 21-7 at the end of the first half.
Both teams traded touchdowns until midway through the fourth quarter, when cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. picked off Jones. The interception led to Stafford’s fourth passing touchdown of the day and solidified the Rams’ victory. Despite another touchdown pass from Jones, they still lost 42-26.