While most NFL fans tend not to tune in for the majority of Thursday night games, considering both the lack of intriguing matchups and the overall non-exciting nature of the football being played, tonight’s game was a welcome break from the norm. Both the Niners and Rams put on a show in each team’s quest to stand atop the NFC West division for the time being, with the beaten-up Niners gritting out a tough 26-23 overtime win over a Los Angeles Rams team that had gotten off to a hot start this season.
Mac Jones’ Career Revival Continues
After Niners star QB Brock Purdy was sidelined due to his lingering toe injury that he suffered in week 1, back-up QB Mac Jones once again showed that he is more than capable of leading the offense effectively. The former Pro Bowler threw for 342 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win. It was his third win as a starter this season for San Francisco. Jones also became just the fourth QB to win his first three starts for the Niners since 1950.
Rams Snatch Defeat From the Jaws Of Victory
On the Rams’ side, this game will certainly sting for quite some time, as Rams Running Back Kyren Williams fumbled at the goal line with just under a minute left in regulation, which would’ve given the Rams a 27-23 lead. There are some positives the Rams can take away from the loss, namely with QB Matt Stafford continuing to defy “Father Time” with his second straight 350+ yard performance. The Rams star finished with 389 passing yards and 3 touchdowns in the loss for Los Angeles.
Niners Receivers Dominate
It wasn’t just Jones giving San Francisco life at the QB position; the second-string receivers also gave the Niners offense a much-needed boost. Niners Wide Receiver Kendrick Bourne had a huge night for the team, finishing with 10 catches for 142 yards. That was also helped out by Running Back Christian McCaffrey, who had his best game of the season to this point, finishing with 57 yards rushing, 8 catches for 82 yards, and a touchdown to boot.
The two-time All-Pro weapon for the Niners had gotten off to a slow start to the season so far, but tonight’s performance could be a sign that McCaffrey is rounding back into the MVP-level form that Niners fans have come accustomed to whenever he’s healthy.
NFC West Outlook Moving Forward
After their win tonight, the Niners officially regained sole possession of the NFC West division, which has quickly proven to be the best division in the NFL this season. However, there are still plenty of games left to go in the season for San Francisco, with at least one more game left to play with each NFC West divisional rival.
For the Rams, they may have lost some ground in the battle for the division crown, but with one more game to play against the Niners as well as a light schedule for almost the rest of the season, they’re still very much a massive threat to win the division.
Final Thoughts
It’s hard not to continue to heap praise on this resilient San Francisco team, especially considering how horrendously the injury bug has plagued this team since the very start of the season. The biggest silver lining for the Niners is the fact that the team still possesses the easiest schedule in the NFL this season, which will certainly help bolster their record as the team looks to get back to 100%.
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