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Rams take down 49ers

See what happened in today’s game:

3-2-1 Action. SoFi Stadium — a 40-minute drive from Hollywood — was the location for the NFC Championship as the Rams took down the 49ers in a close match-up highlighted by stars Cooper Kupp and Deebo Samuel

First Quarter

A slow start to the game, both the 49ers and the Rams traded three and out possessions on their first drives. Neither amounted to many yards, a total of nine yards combined.

The Rams second possession, though, did amount to something — just not what LA envisioned. After two plays for no gain, Matthew Stafford completed a 17-yard pass to top receiving target Cooper Kupp. A few plays later, Stafford completed a 13-yard pass to Tight End Tyler Higbee for a first down along with a ten-yard pass to Odell Beckham Jr. for a first down. Following the two completed passes — a 14-yard run by Cam Akers, taking it to the San Francisco eight yard line. Perfect opportunity to score … right? Two plays later, Stafford completed a five-yard pass to Higbee again, taking it to the 49ers three-yard line.

On Third down and goal, Stafford took the snap, stayed in the pocket and fired a dart to the end zone … into the hands of 49ers Safety Jimmie Ward, after it was tipped.

The 49ers failed to capitalize, though, as a completed pass for 12-yards to Wide Receiver Brandon Aiyuk and an 18-yard run by Running Back Elijah Mitchell was followed by a punt back to the Rams a few plays later.

The Rams next drive — a lengthy one.

Starting at their own three-yard line, the Rams chipped their way to their 31-yard line before the quarter came to an end.

Second Quarter

On third down and ten at the 43, Matthew Stafford kept the drive alive, scrambling his way for 14-yards to the 49ers 43-yard line. Two plays later — an 11-yard pass up the middle completed to Tight End Kendall Blanton.

On third down and six at the 49ers 28-yard line, Stafford threw a short pass to Cooper Kupp for 15-yards and a first down to the San Francisco 13.

The next play, Matthew Stafford was sacked by 49ers’ Nick Bosa for a four-yard loss. Two plays later — on third down and 13 — Stafford fired a perfectly thrown ball to Cooper Kupp in the corner of the end zone for a Rams touchdown.

Now down 7-0, San Francisco was pressured to respond, and they did.

After a short run by Elijah Mitchell on First and 15, 49ers star Deebo Samuel caught a normal designed screen pass on the right side. That is, until the star offensive weapon took it 44-yards, diving his way to the pylon and into the end zone. Checkmate. Tie Game. 7-7.

The Rams got the ball back and after a one-yard run and an incomplete pass, Stafford completed a 13-yard pass to Odell Beckham Jr. bringing the Rams to their 37-yard line. After driving down to the 49ers 36-yard line, a 54-yard field goal attempt from Matt Gay fell short and wide right.

Still tied at 7, San Francisco got the ball back with 1 minute and 50 seconds to go in the half.

After a 2-yard run by Deebo Samuel, Jimmy Garappolo targeted Samuel again, this time throwing it over the middle to him. As he was met by the defender by a big hit jarring the ball loose and incomplete, Samuel fell hard to the ground and stayed there. After receiving medical attention, Samuel would then jog off the field — prompting a cheer from fans in the stadium.

The next play after Samuel was injured, Garappolo threw a pass to Tight End George Kittle for a gain of 11-yards and a first down. A few plays later, Garappolo hit Brandon Aiyuk again for 13 more yards bringing the Niners up to the Rams’ 23-yard line.

Two plays later — a 38-yard field goal from Robbie Gould — giving the 49ers a 10-7 lead going into the half. After the kick, Gould and Rams star Cornerback Jalen Ramsey were jawing at each other and shortly after, both teams headed into the locker room.

Third Quarter

The 49ers started with the ball in the third quarter. Their drive — a 12-play, 4 minute and 11 second drive ending in a punt — was highlighted by a 11-yard pass from Garoppolo to Mitchell to the Rams 43-yard line before ultimately giving the ball back to LA.

The Rams next drive started with a little sprinkle of OBJ. Odell Beckham Jr — a threat at all times — caught a pass for 13-yards before going out of bounds at the Rams 22-yard line and then another on first down for 26-yards to the Rams 48 yard line.

After the two big plays to OBJ, Stafford hit Kendall Blanton again for nine yards to the 49ers 43-yard line. The next two plays were for no gain and the Rams were faced with a decision. Go for it on fourth, or don’t? They decided to go for it as Stafford attempted to sneak it up the middle for a first down but was short of the first down marker.

The ruling of where the ball was spotted was challenged, but the play was upheld and the 49ers took over at their 43-yard line.

After getting the ball back, Garappolo hit Aiyuk once again for 13-yards to the LA 39-yard line on third down and four. On second and 11, Garappolo hit Samuel, who was back in the game, for a 14-yard gain down to the Rams’ 26-yard line. The Niners kept inching their way forward and closer to the end zone.

On second down and 11 at the Rams 16-yard line, Jimmy Garappolo found Kittle again — this time for a 49ers touchdown, giving San Francisco a comfortable 17-7 lead.

LA, getting the ball back down ten with 1:59 remaining in the 3rd quarter, immediately got to work. A short pass to Cooper Kupp for seven-yards ended up being a 22-yard gain due to a taunting penalty on the defense and a few plays later, Stafford found Kupp again for an 11-yard gain to the 49ers’ 40-yard line.

The next play, Stafford found Blanton for a 20-yard gain bringing the Rams to the San Francisco 20-yard line and ending the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Stafford hit Blanton again on the next play for a 9-yard gain, bringing LA down to the 11-yard line.

After that, a Sony Michel rush for no gain and following that — another Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp touchdown, this time finding a wide open Kupp on the left side of the end zone for six.

On the first play of the 49ers drive, Garappolo hit Mitchell short in the middle of the field as Mitchell took it and ran for 21-yards.

Two plays later — a 12-yard pass to Samuel, bringing the 49ers up to around mid-field. The next play, Mitchell took it for nine yards up to the Rams 44-yard line.

The next three plays, a rush for -1 yard, a rush for no gain, and a delay of game followed by 49ers Punter Mitch Wishnowsky punting it back to the Rams.

After an incomplete pass to start the drive for the Rams, Odell Beckham Jr. caught a 29-yard pass which was extended another 15-yards due to an unnecessary hit to the head from Jimmie Ward.

Three plays later — on third and ten — Stafford hit his favorite target, Kupp, again for a gain of 16 to the 49ers’ 25-yard line. After failing to pick up a first down, Matt Gay attempted another field goal with 6:51 remaining, but this time it went right through, tying the score at 17.

The 49ers got the ball back and their drive to answer the field goal amounted to nothing. A 23-second drive, San Francisco gave it right back to the Rams, punting it back to the explosive offense.

Getting the ball back with 6:26 remaining, there was no feeling that LA had to put something together immediately. They mixed the run and pass together and five plays later, with 4:12 remaining, they found themselves at the 49ers’ 37-yard line.

The next play, Stafford hit Kupp once again as Kupp made a fantastic catch and ran around 20-yards after the catch down to the 49ers’ 12-yard line. Falling short of the first-down marker, three plays later the Rams settled for a field goal.

LA went to their Kicker Matt Gay — and he delivered — knocking a 30-yard field goal through, giving the Rams a 20-17 lead with 1:49 remaining.

The 49ers got the ball back now with a chance to tie it .. or even win it. Their first two plays — nothing. On third and 12, Garappolo took an unexpected snap, tried to extend the play as much as possible, looking for an open receiver, and ended up throwing it into the hands of Travin Howard, a Rams Defensive Back.

The interception sealed the ball game for the Rams, as all they had to do was take a knee and start their celebrating. They did just that, inching by the 49ers with a score of 20-17.

The Rams are now slated to face the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl 56 back at SoFi Stadium two weeks from now.

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