Thursday Night Football Recap
**Rams vs. Niners**
If you enjoy filler episodes, reading old magazines, watching afternoon talk shows while waiting at the dentist, or simply appreciate good defense and solid punting, I Don't know Who You Are But you probably liked this Thursday night game. The Rams The Los Angeles Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers 12-6 in a Thursday night matchup, strengthening their position in the NFC West. Both teams struggled offensively, with the Rams managing only four field goals and the Niners failing to capitalize on their opportunities. Brock Purdy's performance was underwhelming, throwing for 143 yards with one interception, while Matthew Stafford finished with 160 yards. The Rams' defense excelled, deflecting nine passes and recording three sacks. The loss leaves the Niners facing potential offseason changes, including the future of Deebo Samuel and the need to assess Purdy's leadership. Puka Nacua had a standout performance with seven catches for 91 yards. Overall, the game reflected the challenges both teams faced after a short rest following previous games.didn’t need a convincing performance or a follow-up to this past Sunday’s offensive masterclass—they just needed to escape with a win. They did just that, defeating the Niners 12-6, which strengthened their position in the NFC West title race and delivered a severe blow to the Niners' season.
Like Jon Snow from *Game of Thrones*, the Los Angeles Rams have come back from the dead. Last season, they crawled out of an early hole due to injuries to Matt Stafford and ended up making the Wild Card. This year, the Rams have dealt with injuries to players like Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, along with some poor secondary play, but they know they need to win the division this year. The Rams got above .500 for the first time in Week 14, and knocking off a division rival like the Niners would go a long way in keeping them close with the Seahawks at the top of the division.
On Thursday night, both offenses started miserably slow. The 49ers got on the board first with a field goal midway through the first quarter, set up by an explosive catch from George Kittle that gave the Niners good field position. Otherwise, fans were treated to a punting showcase throughout the first quarter. Matthew Stafford and the Rams didn’t pick up a first down until the second quarter when Stafford made an 11-yard run for the team's first conversion. He started the game just 2 of 10 for 11 yards, while Brock Purdy fared slightly better at 8 of 16 for 90 passing yards. Both pass defenses looked strong, forcing multiple broken passes.
The Rams' offense managed to reach the five-yard line on a 17-play, 65-yard drive but settled for a field goal. These two offenses combined for nearly 80 points on Sunday but played inconsistently after just three days of rest. The Rams didn't connect on a deep pass until late in the fourth quarter when Matthew Stafford found Puka Nacua for a 51-yard completion that set up the go-ahead field goal. The Rams finished with four field goals and a 12-6 win. Brock Purdy threw a fourth-quarter interception, and a last-possession sack by the Rams sealed the game for the Niners, who stalled out at just six points.
As the Niners' season, which never really took off, simmers to a close, what can fans make of this performance? Brock Purdy couldn’t secure a win for his team, and the weapons at his disposal regressed overall, with only Kittle performing up to par compared to previous seasons. Struggling on offense, Purdy may have felt the need to make a play and rushed a deep ball that ended up getting intercepted. The call for the deep ball didn’t look bad; he just missed the connection, and the ball fell incomplete. Instead of going for it on fourth down, the Rams’ defensive back made a great play and the Niners lost possession.
Purdy's stats were 14 of 31 for 143 passing yards, with one interception and a 45.4 passer rating. In comparison, Stafford went 16 of 31 for 160 yards, with just one completion over 10 air yards. The Rams' defense deflected nine passes, intercepted one, recorded three sacks, allowed just 3.6 yards per play, and held the Niners to 25% on third downs. According to PFF, the Niners lost -3.97 expected points added (EPA) from that one turnover.
The Niners will enter the offseason facing a reckoning at multiple positions. Deebo Samuel seems to have quit on the team and could be a trade candidate if his market picks up. Purdy has experienced an up-and-down season and is due for an extension this year. He has a few more weeks to prove he can lead the Niners to a championship, regardless of the pieces around him. The Niners need to lock up Purdy long-term and continue to give players like Ricky Pearsall more reps.
Puka Nacua had seven catches for 91 yards receiving. This game felt typical for a Thursday night matchup, as both teams were coming off intense performances on Sunday. The Rams didn’t need a “convincing” win in this instance; they have emerged as a team to fear in the NFC, despite how this game looked.
