Rams vs. 49ers: Week 1 Live Score, Analysis and In-Game Thread for San Francisco

The San Francisco 49ers kick off their 2016 campaign with a Monday Night Football matchup against the visiting Los Angeles Rams. Niner Noise has your live, in-game analysis and comment thread for this Week 1 bout.

The 2016 NFL season is officially upon us, and the San Francisco 49ers got things started with a prime-time Monday Night Football contest against NFC West division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams.

Having the Rams back in L.A. is a great thing for this longtime rivalry, although both the Niners and Rams have more questions than answers heading into the season.

The quarterback situation on both teams is less than ideal, with Blaine Gabbert having won out over Colin Kaepernick in Santa Clara.

On the flip side, Los Angeles rolled with Case Keenum over No. 1 overall draft pick Jared Goff.

Both the Rams and Niners wanted to feature the running game in Week 1. San Francisco’s defense had to contend with last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley. And 49ers No. 1 tailback Carlos Hyde looked to replicate his Week 1 efforts from a year ago.

Be sure to follow along with Niner Noise as we provide you updates leading up to, and during, the game.

And scroll down to the comments section to get involved even more!

First Quarter

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick and safety Eric Reid continued to kneel down during the national anthem.

San Francisco opened up on defense after losing the toss. Gurley and Keenum led the Rams offense into Niners territory. But pressure from rookie defensive end Ronald Blair forced an incomplete pass, which led to a Los Angeles punt.

And yet Gabbert and the 49ers offense didn’t make it into Los Angeles territory after picking up just one first down.

The Niners defense sacked Keenum on 3rd-and-long, thanks to linebacker Ahmad Brooks, which gave the 49ers the ball back at midfield. Some Gabbert runs pushed San Francisco into the red zone.

And Hyde pushed the ball over the end zone for the first score of the night, perhaps beginning to replicate his Week 1 efforts from a year ago.

The Niners defense looked to pick up where it left off on its previous stand. Cornerback Tramaine Brock’s pass breakup negated a Rams third-down conversion and forced Los Angeles to punt.

San Francisco continued to move the ball as the clock ran down in the first quarter, thanks largely to an 18-yard run from Hyde.

Second Quarter

The Niners couldn’t convert a fourth-down attempt, which opened up a big gain for Rams wideout Kenny Britt on a Keenum first-down pass.

Facing 4th-and-1, Los Angeles managed to convert and kept the drive alive. And yet Gurley was flagged for taunting shortly thereafter.

And linebacker NaVorro Bowman picked off a deflected Keenum pass for an interception on the subsequent snap.

San Francisco ended up converting its next fourth-down attempt on an 18-yard pass to wide receiver Jeremy Kerley.

Not wanting to be left out of the party, running back Shaun Draughn was able to cross the goal line for the 49ers’ second touchdown of the night.

And the Rams could barely get the ball beyond midfield on the subsequent drive.

In spite of another promising drive, Draughn’s fumble late in the second quarter gave Los Angeles a chance to get back in the game before the half.

Still, the Rams were forced to punt after going 3-and-out. San Francisco followed with a 3-and-out of its own to set up a Los Angeles two-minute drill.

And what do you know… the Rams repeated the drill, thanks to defensive end Arik Armstead’s first sack of 2016.

Third Quarter

San Francisco received the second-half kickoff and started at its own 25-yard line.

But the 49ers went 3-and-out and were forced to punt, setting up the Rams’ first drive after halftime.

That drive didn’t go anywhere, thanks to the Niners upstart defense.

Los Angeles’ defense did manage to play a little more inspired coming out of the half and managed to force another San Francisco 3-and-out.

Yet the Niners defense continued to swarm, forcing the Rams’ eighth punt of the night.

Gabbert had completed 15 of his 23 attempts for just 68 yards, as the Rams began to force him to throw by taking away Hyde’s rushing lanes.

Los Angeles finally threatened late in the quarter, thanks to a big special teams play by wide receiver Tavon Austin. But a Keenum pass went right into the waiting arms of 49ers linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong for San Francisco’s second generated turnover.

Fourth Quarter

Gabbert and the 49ers continued their drive in the final quarter of regulation, although Gabbert’s accuracy remained an issue. He had a 66.3 passer rating entering the fourth quarter.

One of the quarterback’s nicest completions on the night found wide receiver Quinton Patton, which put the Niners back in the red zone for the first time in the half.

And this set up Gabbert’s first touchdown pass of the night on an eight-yard pass to tight end Vance McDonald.

Los Angeles tried to hurry up their offense trailing 21-0 deep into the fourth quarter. And yet the Rams failed on their 11th failed third-down conversion of the night.

The 49ers went to wind-down-the-clock mode as the latter half of the quarter hit the clock.

Los Angeles began to get a bit chippy late in the quarter. Rams standout defensive tackle Aaron Donald wound up getting booted after committing uncharacteristic penalties after a brief scrum, which put San Francisco back in the red zone.

Touchdown, Hyde.

With the outcome no longer in doubt, the Rams seemed content to simply take what was given to them and not take any risks. Despite being in San Francisco territory, a failed 4th-and-10 conversion turned the ball back over to the Niners.

Kaepernick came into the game after the turnover on downs and never threw a pass.

San Francisco punted with 31 seconds left in the quarter, although the remaining seconds mattered little.

The Niners started off 2016 with a 1-0 record and zero points allowed on defense. The team now travels on a short week to take on the defending NFC champions, the Carolina Panthers, who enjoy an elongated break after losing to the Denver Broncos in Week 1 on Thursday Night Football.

But this was a good start for the red and gold.

Final: Rams 0, 49ers 28

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Next: Five Keys to a Niners Victory over Rams in Week 1

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of ESPN.com, Pro-Football-Reference.com and Sports-Reference.com unless otherwise indicated.