The Los Angeles Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers 42-26 on Sunday, avenging their 26-23 loss to their section rivals earlier this season.
Matthew Stafford got his 400th career touchdown pass when he connected with Davis Allen for four yards. Stafford became the ninth player in NFL history to achieve the feat.
The 37-year-old veteran finished his day with 280 yards and four touchdowns. Stafford has now thrown 25 touchdown passes against just two interceptions this year. Since October 28, the quarterback has not been the victim of a single theft and has amassed 20 touchdown passes.
His 13 touchdown passes in the last three games are a team record, and he became the first player in NFL history to throw at least four touchdown passes without an interception in three consecutive games.
“He’s in total control of himself,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said of Stafford. It is the logical continuation of the hard work of a player who gives his all throughout the week. He puts his accumulated knowledge and experience to good use, and he plays with incredible confidence. It seems like the match is going in slow motion for him at the moment.”
For the first time in five years, the Rams scored touchdowns on their first three possessions, taking a 21-0 lead at the start of the second quarter thanks, in particular, to two touchdown passes from Stafford.
The 49ers lost their two best defensive players, Nick Bosa and Fred Warne, for the remainder of the campaign. Last week, Mykel Williams, selected in the first round of the last draft, also suffered a knee injury that ended his season.
The 49ers didn’t make any trades at the trade deadline last week, but it’s likely that no available player could have made a difference Sunday against Stafford and his Rams.
“We knew it would be a big challenge,” observed 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. We know how good they are. We thought we could slow them down and find a way to get them on third down. Obviously we didn’t do it well.”
Receiver Davante Adams was the most productive for the Rams, with six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. However, he injured his back in the fourth quarter and did not return to the game.
Running back Kyren Williams scored two rushing touchdowns and ran for 73 yards on 14 carries.
His opposite number, Christian McCaffrey, was limited to just 30 yards rushing in 12 and carries by the Rams defense. CMC still caught eight passes for 66 yards.
George Kittle scored one of the best touchdowns of the year in the fourth quarter, when he flirted with the sidelines before stretching full length on a diving pass to knock down the orange marker. Kittle finished the game with nine receptions for 84 yards.
Quarterback Mac Jones passed the 300-yard mark with 319, and completed 33 of his 39 pass attempts. Jones, however, was the victim of an interception on fourth down while targeting McCaffrey.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said Brock Purdy has a good chance of returning to the starting lineup next week as he is still dealing with an injury.
The 49ers will try to get back to winning ways next Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Rams will face the Seattle Seahawks, one of the teams of the moment in the NFL.
Seattle flies over its Western National rival
In a duel of teams with bird’s names, the Seattle Seahawks nipped in the bud any hope of victory for the Arizona Cardinals, by scoring 38 points in the first half, in a 44-22 victory on Sunday.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was flamboyant from the start of the game with a 43-yard touchdown using a pass from Sam Darnold, on the first offensive sequence of the game.
The Seahawks defense then stood up by losing the ball to Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett, courtesy of Tyrice Knight. DeMarcus Lawrence then recovered the ball before returning it to the end zone, 34 yards.
After a nine-yard run by George Holani for the major, the Lawrence-Knight duo returned to service in the second quarter. Another fumble caused by Knight, then returned to the promised land, after a 22-yard play by Lawrence.
Zach Charbonnet then gave the Seahawks a 35-point lead, with a touchdown on a six-yard run, still in the second quarter.
Jason Myers scored his team’s other points with three successful field goals, from 46, 32 and 34 yards.
Greg Dortch, Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. scored the touchdowns for Arizona.
Sam Darnold finished the game with 10 successful passes out of 12 attempts. He had aerial gains of 178 yards. In addition to his touchdown pass, he was intercepted once.
For his part, Jacoby Brissett was used as a replacement for Kyler Murray for a fourth straight game. The veteran quarterback completed 22 of his 44 passes attempted, for 258 yards through the air. He threw two touchdown passes and was the victim of five sacks.
Seattle is tied with the Rams at the top of the NL West with a 7-2 record.
Arizona is sinking to the bottom of the division with a 3-6 record.
The Lions in command against Washington
The Detroit Lions beat the Washington Commanders 44-22 on Sunday.
Jared Goff was nearly perfect, completing 25 of 33 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns. Jameson Williams caught six passes for 119 yards and a major.
Jahmyr Gibbs continued his excellent work, with 15 carries for 142 yards and two touchdowns. With his 41st touchdown, Gibbs now ranks fifth in NFL history for total touchdowns for players under the age of 24. Barry Sanders (47), Randy Moss (43), Emmitt Smith (43) and Jim Brown (42) are the only players ahead of him.
Gibbs turns 24 in March, which means he still has the entire regular season to overtake Sanders.
The Lions will have a big challenge next week when they visit the Philadelphia Eagles.
