NFC championship game: San Francisco 49ers 17-20 Los Angeles Rams – live! | Sport

The Rams have it!

Confetti flies at SoFi as Terry Bradshaw presents the George S Halas trophy to Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who moved the team from St Louis, built himself a new stadium, a new neighborhood and now has another Super Bowl appearance. I’d say it’s going reasonably well for the billionaire, wouldn’t you?

Sean McVay says he is so grateful for the players, and he should be, because he coached poorly.

A happy Matthew Stafford, for whom the move from Detroit paid off handsomely, delivers a series of light sports cliches to the remaining crowd befor FOX TV in the US takes us to a commercial break.

Postgame

So Matthew Stafford is heading to the Super Bowl, with minimal help from his coach Sean McVay, whose team won in spite of him, and a lot of help from Jaquiski Tartt, the Niners safety who had a chance to possibly seal this game with an interception that he let slip through his fingers.

The Rams will play in their second Super Bowl in four seasons, and for the second consecutive year, the a team will play in their home stadium. That after 54 years of it not happening.

The Howard pick seals a wild, and at one point unlikely win for the Rams! They will play at home v the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI (56)!

Jennings has a catch for a loss – it’s 3rd & 13.

Now Jimmy G is back to pass – Donald comes with pressure, Goroppolo tosses it away, Hasty gets a hand on it and Howard makes the pick!

That should do it for LA! What a play!

49ers 17-20 Rams, 1:42 4th quarter

Here we go!

G throws and it’s batted down by Gaines, who has had a really strong game today.

It’s 2nd & 10.

So SF does what they need to do: hold LA to a field goal and give themselves some time. It cost them two timeouts, but that’s what they’re there for.

49ers 17-17 Rams, 1:49 4th quarter

Stafford finds Kupp for eight yards and the Niners call timeout. Here comes Gay for a 29-yard attempt.

49ers 17-17 Rams, 1:55 4th quarter

Bosa sacks Stafford and Ebukam was so close to knocking the ball free from Stafford. Timeut SF, ball on the 20 and it’s 3rd & 18.

49ers 17-17 Rams, 2:00 4th quarter

We just flew down to the two-minute warning. And despite some awful coaching by McVay, the Rams are in control right now, just 13 yards from a touchdown lead.

It’s 2nd & 11. The Niners need to try and hold LA to a field goal while protecting some of that clock. Tricky.

49ers 17-17 Rams, 2:32 4th quarter

Stafford, upright in the pocket, hanging in and he finds Kupp! He catches and he runs, all the way down to the Niners 12! That’s a 25-yard gain over the middle by Kupp.

49ers 17-17 Rams, 3:40 4th quarter

Stafford hits Beckham on a hook route for seven. It’s 3rd & 3…

49ers 17-17 Rams, 4:40 4th quarter

Now it’s LA’s turn to try and take control. They begin with a three yard run by Akers, and follow with a six-yard catch by Jefferson on the sideline.

On 3rd & short, it’s Blanton, again! This time it’s a key six-yard grab for a first down!

The Rams are at thee Niners 42, and the clock is ticking.

49ers 17-17 Rams, 6:26 4th quarter

So does Just Enough Jimmy have just enough to get the Niners to the Super Bowl?

We’ll soon find out.

Here he’s hit as he throws, incomplete, over the middle at Kittle.

Now there’s a delay of game penalty on San Francisco, thanks to the Rams cheering section, who are showing up right now.

Its’s 2nd & 15, G is running around to his right and throwing wildly to his right and it’s nearly picked off!

So a long 3rd & 15 coming up. G has Aiyuk, short, and he drops it!

Good defense by LA on this possession and they will get the ball back. Punt and fair catch: the Rams will start at their 39.

Pass to Michel in the backfield and he’s wrapped up by Warner! What a terrible call by McVay! More bad from McVay! What is going on?

Here’s Gay – it’s a 40-yard attempt, and it’s good!

49ers 17-14 Rams, 7:50 4th quarter

On 2nd & 10, Stafford finds Beckham on the far sideline – gain of seven, setting up a big 3rd & 3.

49ers 17-14 Rams, 8:19 4th quarter

Here’s Kupp – he’s down to the 25 after a 16-yard gain! Somehow, here come the Rams!

49ers 17-14 Rams, 8:50 4th quarter

Stafford throws a deep ball right into the hands of safety Jaquiski Tartt – but he somehow drops it! That is crazy! That could have been the game on a terrible throw by Stafford.

Now Stafford hits Beckham, and then Ward hits Beckham, illegally! That’s a 30-yard catch and a 15-yard penalty!

So we go from a sure interception to a 45-yard pickup by LA, thrown a life vest by SF here in the fourth.

49ers 17-14 Rams, 9:55 4th quarter

The ruling on the field stands, and McVay loses his final timeout and they are out of challenges. Man that is absolutely terrible coaching by McVay.

And now SF are going to go for it! Or at least their offense is on the field!

Jimmy G is under center at the Rams 45, and there he will stay. It’s a delay of game, and now the punting unit will come on. Good idea from SF.

Kupp calls for a fair catch at the 15.

49ers 17-14 Rams, 10:01 4th quarter

Juszczyk, running up the middle, is stuffed! The Rams deny SF a first down in a huge spot!

The ball came out and the Rams recovered, but the 4th & 2 punt was about to commence. McVay is going to challenge!

This better work, or this will become a coaching nightmare for McVay.

49ers 17-14 Rams, 10:40 4th quarter

Now Garoppolo has Samuel on his right side – he turns and runs for another first down. This is looking quite competent.

Now Mitchell steamrolls for nine, over everybody, and SF are moving briskly across midfield.

But now Mitchell takes a handoff and is hit for a loss. So this becomes a very important 3rd & 2 play.

49ers 17-14 Rams, 12:51 4th quarter

Samuel takes the kickoff but can only get to the 14. A lot of Rams players jumping around looking excited. Momentum shift? Let’s see.

On first down, Jimmy J gets time and hits Mitchell – big gain of 21 to start this drive!

The Blanton show continues with another reception of nine over the middle. He now has more touches this game than all this season!

So now it’s 3rd & 1 at the 11. Huge down right here.

Stafford is in the shotgun – he’s gonna throw, and find Cooper Kupp, who is in the end zone: touchdown!

The Rams come right back!

49ers 17-7 Rams, end of 3rd quarter

Blanton takes a toss from Stafford and he has room! The last of LA’s TE’s has a gain of 20, to the SF 20. And the quarter ends…they’re just flying by.

To the 4th!

49ers 17-7 Rams, 0:19 3rd quarter

So lots of time left, but I have to say, as far as football goes, these quarters have been moving along quite briskly.

Stafford hits Kupp, and then Al-Shaair gets down for unsportsmanlike conduct after the play, but I saw nothing and don’t understand that at all.

So the Rams are already at midfield when Kupp is hit again, this time Stafford finds him down the far sideline – a gain of 11.

The ball is at the SF 40 and LA can’t get the play off! They call their second time out and that’s just a mess.

They have just one left.

Jimmy G has time and now has Kittle wide open for the touchdown!

Jimmy “Just Enough” does it again!

Niners in command at SoFi!

49ers 10-7 Rams, 2:47 3rd quarter

Now it’s 3rd & 10. Garoppolo in the shotgun, has time and has Jennings over the middle! He’s stood up, but keeps fighting and leans over the first down mark! Huge play right there by the third string wideout!

Niners are in the red zone!

49ers 10-7 Rams, 3:34 3rd quarter

Samuel catches a screen on the near side and breaks free for a first down at LA’s 26. That’s a big 14-yard gain for Samuel!

49ers 10-7 Rams, 5:39 3rd quarter

Aiyuk over the middle for a first down reception! SF to the Rams’ 39!

49ers 10-7 Rams, 6:39 3rd quarter

On 2nd & 10, Samuel runs for five, setting up a big third down.

The Rams’ head coach Sean McVay challenged the spot, which was really dumb. They lost the challenge, and thus, lost a timeout. Remember that.

The Rams are short and SF takes over at their 43! That’s potentially a huge moment right there in this game.

49ers 10-7 Rams, 7:53 3rd quarter

A Stafford sneak – he looks short but it’s down to the spot of course. Let’s see.

49ers 10-7 Rams, 8:03 3rd quarter

On 3rd & 1, Stafford is back to throw…nobody available and he throws it away.

Now the Rams will go for it!

49ers 10-7 Rams, 9:01 3rd quarter

Great move by Beckham to break free from Mosley for a first down catch on the sideline.

And again – this time Beckham is in the middle of the field. That’s 39 yards to Beckham on consecutive plays.

The Rams are at the Niners 43.

Meanwhile, Higbee will not return for LA – that’s a blow to their embattled TE unit.

49ers 10-7 Rams, 10:45 3rd quarter

it’s a handoff to Kupp and Mosely creeps up from the corner position and puts a hit on the Rams wideout. It doesn’t put him down, but sends him backwards a few feet: it’s another example of just how physical this Niners defense can be.

Williams is down for the Niners – timeout on the field.

It’s 2nd & 9 from the Rams nine.

49ers 10-7 Rams, 10:49 3rd quarter

On 3rd & 9, Goroppolo’s throw is tipped by Gaines (which makes up for his earlier penalty) and it’s incomplete.

The Rams hold and force a punt: they’ll take over on their own 11.

49ers 10-7 Rams, 10:59 3rd quarter

FOX TV in the US has a great shot of Gould chipping field goals right over the Rams before the start of the second half. So Gould, quite a mouthy kicker, gets into it with Ramsey, again.

Meanwhile, Aiyuk draws an illegal contact penalty and that’s another 49ers first down by penalty.

Then Mitchell has a first down completion on the far side for the Niners third first down of this drive. Somehow they’re across midfield, by, you guessed it, doing mostly nothing.

49ers 10-7 Rams, 13:48 3rd quarter

Jimmy G runs to his right and then throws across his body, nearly into the hands of Ramsey, who is on the wrong team.

That was bananas. What was he doing?

Now it’s 3rd & 4, but we have a flag – it’s a neutral zone infraction on Gaines, handing a first down to SF.

That was easy.

Stats

It’s been a physical game so far and the Rams have more of everything, except points. LA have out gained SF 199 to 120 yards. Stafford is 14/24 for 130 yards with a TD and INT. Jimmy G is 8/12 for 137.

And we’re back…SF has the ball to start the second half.

Email

Will Wiles wants to talk about the Deeebo Samuel hit.

The contrast between the contact laws in NFL and rugby are clear for all to see in that hit. Hitting a player that hard in the air would result in a red card in rugby union to protect player safety yet its also true that the NFL has been far more successful in adopting safer concussion protocols than union (although many players suffered before they did). The stop start nature of NFL does mean heavy contacts aren’t made worse by continuous exertion immediately afterwards even if the contacts themselves can be ferocious.

I’m just glad the guy is still alive.

Gould connects for his 21st consecutive post-season field goal, and the half ends with the Niners taking the lead.

And this is classic Jimmy G/Niners football – they don’t do much of anything and they have the lead.

That’s some trick.

Jalen Ramsey talks some crap to Gould on the way out, which is interesting.

Halftime.

49ers 7-7 Rams, 0:02 2nd quarter

Jimmy G, in trouble, steps up in the pocket and scrambles for a few yards. SF timeout, their last.

It’s 3rd & 6 – here comes the FG unit, a 38-yard attempt for Gould.

49ers 7-7 Rams, 0:20 2nd quarter

Jimmy G, in the pocket, a few steps to his right, and a little pass to Hasty for a few yards. He follows that with a pass to the Rams 25 to Aiyuk.

Garoppolo spikes the ball to stop the clock.

49ers 7-7 Rams, 0:51 2nd quarter

Deebo looks to be ok, and what’s more, Kittle has a first down catch over the middle! So that’s a strong turn of events. SF use their second timeout – they’re at the LA 43.

49ers 7-7 Rams, 1:01 2nd quarter

Samuel on the ground, runs right for two yards.

Taking his time, Jimmy G huddles, heads into the shotgun and passes incomplete to Samuel who is DESTROYED running over the middle. Wow! That was a shot, totally clean, from Mitchell!

And Samuel is down on his back. His ability to continue is crucial for the Niners attack, of course. A lot of breath holding right now for SF fans. Injury timeout.