The San Francisco 49ers (4-2) used a momentum shifting touchdown reception by receiver Michael Crabtree and a rally killing interception by rookie cornerback Dontae Johnson, to snatch a 31-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams (1-4) at the Edward Jones Dome.
Just when it seemed like the Rams were on their way to claiming a victory over one of the power teams of the NFC West in the 49ers, the Rams lack of a consistent pass rush and quarterback Austin Davis’s (21 of 42 for 236 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception for the game) second half inconsistency put them back in their place.
This was a game that the Rams could have won and that could have helped turn around their season. But with injuries, youth, and an underachieving defense that has had a hard time holding leads and stopping any of their last five opponents, tonight’s loss came as no surprise.
As for the actual game, the most instrumental plays of the Rams’ first scoring drive came courtesy of tight end Jared Cook (4 catches for 74 yards and no score) and rookie running back Tre Mason. Cook’s reception bailed the Rams out of a 3rd and 5 situation at their own 25, with the tight end taking Davis’ pass 39 yards to the SF 36.
Mason really needed to step up, because he has been inactive all season. He hasn’t been activated to play by the Rams head coach Jeff Fisher since August 28, 2014 when he played in a preseason game versus Miami.
Mason’s 12 yard reception in which he fought through two defenders to get to the SF 5, set up running back Benny Cunningham’s off left tackle touchdown run to give the Rams a 7-0 lead with just over eight minutes to go in the first quarter.
Then Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis (6 tackles and a fumble recovery) recovered a Vance McDonald fumble at the STL 28 and returned the gift 17 yards to the STL 45 .
Laurinaitis’ s big play set up a Lance Kendricks 22 yard touchdown reception, in which the tight end beat an unsuspecting Chris Culliver (who wasn’t too worried about the tight end, just short area coverage on a receiver) and a late arriving Perrish Cox. The score was now 14-0 Rams with just 53 seconds left in the first quarter.
But early in the second quarter, the 49ers received their best scoring opportunity of the night when rookie strong safety Jimmie Ward came uncomfortably close (for the Rams that is) to blocking punter Johnny Hekker’s punt. And because of Ward’s presence, Hekker sent the punt only 13 yards off the side of his right foot and to the STL 43.
The Niners ended up getting a successful Phil Dawson 54 yard field goal out of Ward’s heads-up play and the Rams lead was cut to 14-3 with 7:07 left in the first half.
Just when Rams fans and the defense thought the Niners were going to pack it in and regroup for the second half, the 49ers were still in attack and rally mode.
Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (22 of 36 for 343 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions) read his keys pre-snap, took the snap, and then looked to his left and fired a sideline route to veteran receiver Brandon Lloyd who took the pass and sped down the left sideline 80 yards for a touchdown.
On the play, Lloyd burned Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins like toast with the defender never having a chance to lay any part of his anatomy on the receiver. It was 14-10 Rams with 27 seconds left in the first half.
One of the most screwed up stats of the 2014 NFL season has to be the fact that receiver Anquan Boldin (7 catches for 94 yards and 1 score) had no touchdown catches coming into tonight’s game. Boldin put that stat to bed as he got behind the Rams defense near the back of the end zone, and caught a Kaepernick touchdown pass from 11 yards out to give the 49ers their first lead of the game at 17-14 with 9:58 left in the third quarter.
Crabtree (3 catches for 49 yards and 1 score) continued the theme of 49ers receivers aggravating the Rams defense, as he was the third straight receiver to catch a touchdown pass in the last two quarters. Crabtree did his damage on a shortened sideline-streak then slant pattern 32 yard touchdown reception that gave the Niners a 24-14 lead with just 20 seconds left in the third quarter.
The Rams on their second to last offensive drive of the game, had so many opportunities to score or at least set up touchdowns. But the failure to finish routes and dropped passes doomed them and made them settle for a 38 yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein and a 24-17 49ers lead with just under 2:30 left in the contest.
But it was Johnson who ended the Rams efforts for a comeback for good, when he read his coverage keys then jumped in front of receiver Kenny Britt at the STL 20 and proceeded to run unharmed to the end zone to give the Niners a 31-17 lead with 53 seconds left in the game.
