The San Francisco 49ers survived a nail-biting clash against the Los Angeles Rams, pulling off a dramatic 26-23 overtime victory on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. The win came down to a decisive defensive stand on fourth down, sealing the 49ers’ fourth win of the season.
Eddy Pineiro played a pivotal role, converting a 41-yard field goal in overtime—his fourth of the night—before San Francisco’s defense slammed the door shut on the Rams’ final drive. On fourth-and-1 at the 49ers’ 11-yard line, running back Kyren Williams was met by a wall of defenders, including Marques Sigle, leaving him short of the marker and ending the contest with 3:36 left in OT.
The 49ers’ resilience was on display even before extra time. With just over a minute left in regulation, Alfred Collins forced and recovered a fumble at the San Francisco 1-yard line, denying what looked like a game-winning score for the Rams. That crucial play allowed the 49ers to stay alive and push the game into overtime after Joshua Karty tied it for Los Angeles with a 48-yard field goal in the dying seconds.
Quarterback Mac Jones, stepping in for the injured Brock Purdy (turf toe), put up impressive numbers with 342 passing yards and two touchdowns on 33-of-49 completions. His connection with Kendrick Bourne was electric, as Bourne posted a career-high 142 receiving yards on 10 catches. Christian McCaffrey added 139 scrimmage yards and a touchdown, while tight end Jake Tonges hauled in an early score.
For the Rams, Matthew Stafford had his best outing of the season, throwing for 389 yards and three touchdowns. Williams contributed 131 scrimmage yards and two receiving scores but was involved in two costly plays, including the late fumble and the failed fourth-down conversion. Puka Nacua also made an impact with 10 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.
The Rams, who trailed by 13 points midway through the third quarter, clawed their way back with touchdowns from Nacua and Williams. A blocked extra point by San Francisco’s Jordan Elliott, however, kept the game tied at 20, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
San Francisco dominated the early phases, storming ahead with a 6-yard touchdown strike from Jones to Tonges and a grueling 17-play drive capped by McCaffrey’s 1-yard touchdown catch. But the Rams’ fightback ensured the game went down to the wire, ending in heartbreak for the home side.
