ENGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey became the 11th player in NFL history to have a rushing, passing, and receiving touchdown in a single game. year with a 31-14 win over Los Angeles on Sunday.
McCaffrey threw a 34-yard TD pass to Brandon Ayuk in the first half, caught a TD pass from Jimmy Garoppolo in the third quarter, and controlled the Niners (4-4) with a TD run early in the fourth quarter.
Garoppolo had 235 passing yards and two touchdowns, and San Francisco scored 24 unanswered points to end their eighth straight regular season victory over their NFC West rivals.
McCaffrey finished with 94 yards rushing and 55 yards receiving. LaDainian Tomlinson was the last player in San Diego in 2005 to make his TD of rushing, passing and receiving during his one game.
Last week, the 49ers edged the Rams (3-4) in a trade for McCaffrey’s services. The versatile running back showed exactly what Los Angeles was missing. The Rams were actually burned by McCaffrey in the second straight game as they racked up 158 total yards for the Panthers in their final win over Carolina in Los Angeles.
The 49ers regained the lead late in the third quarter after trailing 14–10 at halftime despite McCaffrey’s 34-yard TD pass. On an 88-yard drive, McCaffrey’s clever TD catch covered the sidelines. McCaffrey then had a 24-yard run, then scored a 1-yard at 12:07, George Kittle made a late TD catch, and despite star Divo Samuel being uninjured, the Niners scored a 1-yard win. sealed the Rams’ recent humiliation.
Los Angeles narrowly beat San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium just nine months ago, but the Niners have won every other matchup since 2018.
Matthew Stafford passed for 187 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown since 2016 against the Super Bowl champion Rams (3-4). The Rams fell short of . 500 for the third time. Sean McVay has been all about this season in his coaching career. Los Angeles were shut out after his third halftime already this season as he netted 43 for his yards in the second half.
McVay has lost nine of his 13 matches against former colleague Kyle Shanahan in Washington since taking his current job one month apart in 2017.
Cooper Cup had eight catches for 79 yards and one touchdown, but the Rams All-Pro cautiously walked off the field after a nasty tackle with 1:02 remaining.
The Rams scored first when Stafford’s 1-yard run consumed 9:21 on a 17-play, 88-yard drive.
The Niners equalized a few minutes later when McCaffrey’s TD passed from a fake screen. Samuel threw his TD his pass against the Rams last season.
Injury
Four main starters were inactive for the Niners: Samuel, DT Arik Armstead, FB Kyle Uschczyk and LB Dre Greenlow.
Rams TE Tyler Higby injured his neck while making a catch in the first quarter, but returned in the second. He had a nasty dip in the fourth quarter. … WR Van Jefferson was not a target for his debut of the season after undergoing knee surgery early in his camp in training.
next
49ers: Goodbye.
Rams: Sunday at the Buccaneers.
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