124 thoughts during 49ers win over Los Angeles Rams in Week 16

Join Niner Noise’s resident Australian and his thoughts as the San Francisco 49ers host an important division game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 16.

I’m nervous, but as long as San Francisco wins it’ll be winner takes all for the first seed against Seattle next week.

Can we please just crush the Rams again and not have a panic attack for this?

Here we go! Rams to receive.

Ugh, the Rams are marching down the field with devastating play action here.

Seriously it’s like the defense thinks the Rams will run on every play in the opening drive and they’re forgetting to cover anyone.

Touchdown Rams, ironically the touchdown pass was defended very well but it still got through.

Just need to rebound offensively.

I mean the Rams did this the first time then we shut them down.

WHAT A RETURN!

That deserved to be a touchdown.

Great reply by the defense, they blew up a couple of screen plays.

Can the offense continue to claw back the momentum?

Garland is having issues with these snaps.

Ugh the 49ers can’t make any headway because these poor snaps are ruining plays. Essentially the 49ers have two plays rather than three.

Defense held up again, it’s down to the offense to take advantage.

They will if the Rams keep punting like that.

That is just not a good throw. Ugh, it’s going to be one of THOSE games.

It’s worth noting Goff had a finger injury last week, and has not thrown the ball well so far when going deep. I think there’s going to be a reliance on play action and short throws for the Rams.

As I say that, he completes a deep pass on 3rd and 12 that wasn’t reliant on play action.

End of the first quarter. Rams lead 7-3 and are going to score again unless they turn the ball over. 49ers offense has been totally lackluster.

Someone get me some jumper cables so I can jump start this 49ers offense please.

Deebo is like a human jumper cable so that counts.

Can the defense make a stop?

As suspected, the Rams offense is relying a lot on play action more than just regular passing.

There’s a real concerning lack of adjustment to these screens and play action passes. Goff isn’t going to go downfield much due to his finger injury.

I haven’t written much while the Rams are on offense because there isn’t much to say.

They use play action and screens, and the defense isn’t adjusting to it.

Gurley runs it in again, and it’s 21-10 to the Rams.

Robert Saleh is usually good at adjustments, but he seems to have no answer for this playaction offense.

Kittle again! If the 49ers score, then at least it’s only a one possession game with the 49ers to receive the ball in the second half.

This game has gotten a bit chippy, which isn’t surprising as both teams have a lot to play for.

It’s down to the 49ers defense to stop the Rams in this two minute drill. 21-17 to the Rams.

The first play was a screen. WHY CAN THEY KEEP DOING THIS!?

Oh look, another screen for a first down.

I love Robert Saleh seriously but come ON.

Goff throws relatively deep after a standard five step drop and it’s an airball wobbler that isn’t accurate. Use this information.

GOFF NEVER SAW HIM!

49ers lead!

24-21!

Not much else to talk about for the rest of the quarter, but the 49ers go into halftime with a lead that looked so unlikely only half a quarter ago.

And here we go again, can the 49ers get a two possession lead?

Ugh not with a drop and a false start to begin the half.

And not with another interception.

How many interceptions have come from drops this year?

Or maybe that was a good tip actually.

Probably don’t attack Ramsey, it’s not working well.

On the plus side, the defense did spectacularly well and it’ll be a tough field goal for the Rams now.

Wide left! 49ers get the ball in good field position now.

Seriously why couldn’t Baltimore or Seattle miss kicks like that though?

Delay of game, they may have tried to make the Rams jump.

Excellent pressure by the 49ers defense, they haven’t sacked Goff but they’re making him rush his decision making.

The offense has been OK but not great, they need to take advantage of this good field position again.

With a sack on third down, they did not.

Ugh.

First sack of the day for either team shockingly.

I hate stupid penalties, and interfering with the punt returner is right up there for dumb penalties.

The 49ers did so well to contain the bootleg, then they got caught out by a throw over the top on third down. Ugh.

28-24 to the Rams.

The issue for San Francisco is the offense has stagnated again, so the team needs to find a way to get going again.

To be fair, he’s pretty good at that.

Two straight sacks to the Rams, the offense is starting to lose the battle here.

Just to make things worse, Garoppolo rolled his ankle when someone fell on it.

49ers offense has disappeared, and now the Rams have the chance to get a two score lead again.

Goff isn’t missing passes. Even the previously wonky passes off dropbacks look a lot cleaner.

Oh boy, if the 49ers had fallen on that fumble that could have been a huge momentum shift.

End of the third quarter, Rams lead 28-24.

I hate these close games. I guess they build character.

Good start for the 49ers, making the Rams punt here.

Unfortunately it was a good punt for once, the 49ers will start on their six yard line.

Garoppolo is flirting with danger on some of these throws.

Another sack, the offensive line started so well but they’ve fallen to pieces. Interior offensive line is a definite need for the draft.

The 49ers stop a screen on 3rd and short. That’s a big statement late.

Nice try by the Rams to try to force a jump, both teams weren’t able to get that play to work on special teams.

The 49ers are running out of time, and this is going to be a long field. Maybe some screens of their own could help. They’ve had a little success with screens on plays earlier.

Kittle! Who else can invigorate an offense like this man?

Touchdown! Who else but Kittle!?

Great work by Garoppolo extending the play!

49ers back in front 31-28!

Defense needs a big stop here.

Ugh, a dart on 3rd and 8 finds a receiver at midfield. That hurts.

Harris just dropped the easiest interception any 49ers defender had all season…will that cost San Francisco?

Since kickers facing the 49ers in clutch moments are required to never miss, the score is now tied.

This hurts since it should have been an interception.

On the plus side the 49ers only need a field goal to get the lead back.

Another sack. I don’t like this.

Down to the two minute warning, but the 49ers are against the wall trying to get a first down here.

3rd and 16, so the 49ers need a huge play here or else the Rams get a chance to win.

AND THEY GET A HUGE PLAY! KENDRICK BOURNE FALLS OVER THE FIRST DOWN LINE!

Unfortunately that’s the sixth sack of the game. Garoppolo is to blame for that because he had a checkdown that he either ignored or didn’t see.

3rd and 16 again. Can lightning strike twice?

EMMANUEL SANDERS!!!

LIGHTNING STRUCK TWICE!

49ers in field goal range!

What a clutch play, it was busted coverage and Garoppolo made sure they paid the price.

I hate close games, but that was great.

Well here we go. Can Gould win it?

Here comes the kick.

And.

It.

Is.

…

GOOD!

49ers win! 49ers win! 49ers win!

YESSSSSSS!!!!!!