Deebo Samuel, 49ers rolls on Rams, creates four-way NFC West tie

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In two defeats this season, San Francisco 49ers‘Defense just needs a little help from offense. On Monday night against Los Angeles RamsIt turns out that what was really needed was the massive help of Deebo Samuel.

The Niners’ earlier struggling offensive behavior received the needed spark from Samuel, who ignited the offense with a dervish with a 57-yard touchdown and continued a 115-yard night. San Francisco’s suffocating defense solved the rest in one Win 24-9 it was the Niners’ seventh straight game against the Rams in the regular season. The win pushed the 49ers to 2-2 in the off-season and 2-0 in the NFC West.

San Francisco 49ers

Eye-catching Next Generation Indicator: Samuel’s 57-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter included 51 yards after an unscheduled catch, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. That’s the second most on any pass to the Niners since 2016, just behind the 83-yard catch he had to score in last Week’s win. Chicago Bears in 2021. Samuel ran a total of 79.7 yards when he touched the ball.

Buying Talanoa HufangaBreakthrough performance of: The Niners’ strong second-year safety looked like an up-and-coming star in the first three weeks of the season with his fearless attacking style and over 40-plus coverage of skills. But Hufanga made a big statement to a nationwide audience on Monday night, a short step ahead Matthew Stafford throw and juggle the ball a bit before grabbing it and racing 52 yards for the game-ending touchdown. The Niners’ defense is already star rated, but it looks like they’ll need one more spot.

QB analysis: Midfielder 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo emphasized all week that finding rhythm is a work in progress and will take some time. And while that obviously still happened on Monday, Garoppolo certainly improved from Week 3 to Week 4. Garoppolo missed some throws he needed to make, but he was mostly on the right side. and get off the ball quickly after an attack line that lacks the remaining star. handle Trent Williams. Most importantly, he has no spin in a game where a gift can change the outcome. He completed 16 of 27 of the 239 yards with a touchdown giving him a passer rating of 100.7. –– Nick Wagoner

Underrated statistics to know: Rams .’s first half goal Matt Gay marks the first points the 49ers have taken in their first defensive possession of the season. It was also the first score the 49ers allowed in the first quarter of this season. They were the last team to get a point in the first half.

Next game: at the Panthers (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Los Angeles Rams

Coach Sean McVay said after Los Angeles Rams‘Win week 3 that crime is still figuring out its identity. In the Rams’ loss on Monday night, that identity had nothing to do with finding the end zone against a San Francisco 49ers defense.

QB analysis: For the second week in a row, the Rams . midfielder Matthew Stafford didn’t throw a touch, but this time, the Los Angeles attack couldn’t be enough to win the NFC West. Stafford completed 32 of 48 254-yard passes with an intercept and a fumble. Offense once again ran through Cooper Kupp on Monday night, when the wide receiver finished with 14 catches for 122 yards. Only Kupp and tight end Tyler Higbee There were more than three catches for the Rams.

Trouble Trends: After allowing seven sacks to enter Buffalo Bills In the opening game of the season, the Rams’ offensive line was more consistent in Weeks 2 and 3. But against the 49ers on Monday night, Stafford was sacked seven times, including four in the first half. According to research by ESPN Stats & Information, Stafford has been pressured 17 times, the second most since joining the Rams. The Rams are dealing with a number of injuries on the offensive line and have come down to the center of their third string, Jeremiah Koloneafter the center Coleman Shelton left the game with an ankle injury.

Biggest flaw in the game plan: The containment of Samuel continues to be an issue for Los Angeles. Including the knockouts, Samuel has scored five touches against the Rams since the start of the 2021 season. According to ESPN Stats & Info research, the percentage is most tied by any player. than any team since the start of last season. Samuel finished with six catches for 115 yards, though 57 yards was the biggest game of the game, as Samuel dodged several Rams players to catch the long ball and run for the touchdown. Samuel had two runs for 29 yards or more on Monday. The Rams have one of those gaps or more in all seasons. – Sarah Barshop

Underrated statistics to know: That’s Stafford’s six Talanoa Hufanga return for 52-yard scores in the fourth quarter is only the third on-screen pass in the past three seasons (brave cat threw one in 2021 and Cam Newton threw one in 2020).

Next game: versus the Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)