INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Call it a Hollywood ending. We’re close enough, right? This was definitely dramatic enough.
Thursday night’s 26-23 overtime thriller came down to the final play: a fourth-down tackle for no gain by the 49ers’ no-Bosa, no-interceptions defense against the “Big Boy” Rams to reward another bipartisan crowd.
The 49ers flipped their L.A. script. They indeed blew a fourth-quarter lead, just as they did in the 2021 season’s NFC Championship Game and more recently in last season’s Week 3 visit. This time, they won when they weren’t expected to ever lead with a shorthanded cast.
Fullback Kyle Juszcszyk, their elder statesman in his ninth Niners season, did not let that history interfere. “If I thought about it more on the sideline, yes, there probably would have been some déjà vu,” Juszczyk said. “But to be totally honest, I didn’t let that creep into my mind. We were so focused on taking control of what we could control.”
He opened overtime with a 12-yard reception from Mac Jones, and away the 49ers went toward what Juszczyk appropriately dubbed a “wild, wild but fun” win.
“The whole thing was about competitive stamina,” Juszczyk added. “That’s what we stressed this whole week: no matter how long we had to be out there and no matter how many plays, shake off whatever just happened and continue to focus on to the next one.”
On to the 10 things that caught my eye in this game:
1. FOURTH-DOWN FORCE
Of the 147 offensive plays of this mesmerizing car wash, it boiled down to fourth-and-1 at the 49ers’ 11-yard line with 3:41 left in overtime. The 49ers had taken the lead with a field goal on overtime’s opening possession, and the rival Rams tried to replicate Super Bowl LVIII with a game-winning touchdown in response.
“No flashbacks. Better result,” coach Kyle Shanahan said.
His defense’s heroic stand ended with Kyren Williams running into what Shanahan called “a brick wall” for no gain. Nickel back Chase Lucas, subbing for Upton Stout, initially blocked Williams’ path before fellow defensive backs Marques Sigle and Deommodore Lenoir solidified the no-gain tackle, with Fred Warner and Alfred Collins also walling it off.
“Yeah, it was insane. They didn’t want to end in a tie,” Warner said. “They thought they could big-boy us at the end and see who wanted it more.”
Warner’s intention was to “blow it up and make it muddy,” and he did exactly that. Earlier, Warner spotted Lucas in the huddle during a timeout and told him: “You might make the game-winning play.”
Nick Bosa did that in Week 1 at Seattle, and Bryce Huff did so in Week 2, both on strip sacks. This time, it was a collective defensive force, to which Lucas crowed: “Crunch to the bunch.”
Alas, the 49ers allowed no overtime points, and they’ve yet to allow a first-quarter point all season.
2. COLLINS’ RIGHT HOOK
Williams slammed his helmet into the SoFi Stadium turf as the 49ers celebrated their victory by sprinting in all directions. Williams earlier had two touchdown catches, totaled 66 receiving yards, and 65 rushing yards. His night was marred not only by the fourth-down stop but also a fumble at the 1-yard line that rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins forced and recovered with 1:05 left in regulation.
“It’s a must-have-it play. I saw the ball and knocked it,” said Collins, whose massive body anchored the game-ending dogpile outside the 10-yard line against Williams.
Mac Jones said of his view from the sideline: “I was honestly zoned out, trying to drink Gatorade. Great play, got his big hand in there to make a great play. Not to be negative, I was getting ready to play overtime.”
3. ROOKIE CLASS
Warner offered a poignant line in postgame access: “John Lynch is probably going to celebrate on that plane tonight.” Too bad it’s the shortest flight of the season, with three more coming in the next month.
Lynch, the 49ers’ ninth-year general manager, can take a victory lap seeing how this year’s draft class not only made strides but decisive plays in this game. Sigle is a fifth-round gem. Collins a second-rounder. Other rookie defenders factoring into the mix were Stout and defensive linemen Mykel Williams and C.J. West.
Added Warner: “Alfred Collins, unbelievable play on the 1-yard line to punch the ball out and give our team a chance.”
4. QUARTERBACK DEPTH
Jones is 3-0 as a starter; only Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts are 4-0. Purdy is 1-1. Don’t be foolish enough to think a Joe-vs.-Steve quarterback controversy is afoot.
“They brought me here to play as a backup. That’s my job,” Jones said after his 342-yard, two-touchdown, no-turnover, knee-injury-be-damned showcase.
Shanahan said Purdy is week-to-week, casting doubt over next Sunday’s availability in Tampa Bay.
“Brock is the starter of this team,” Jones continued. “Right now, he’s dealing with something. To go out last week and play when he was not at full health, he cares about this team. I’m just trying to get some wins for him so it helps us down the line.”
Juszczyk praised Jones’ grit and leadership, saying “we’ve proved” the 49ers have two starting-caliber quarterbacks. Jones, whose comical nature is endearing, isn’t angling for fans’ endorsement. “I’ve been in (Purdy’s) position. You want your backup to go win,” Jones said. “At the end of the season, that could be hit or miss between a playoff or not.”
5. BOURNE REBOUNDS
Three drops. That is how many Kendrick Bourne had in Sunday’s 26-21 loss to Jacksonville.
“He had some adversity last week and came back and played awesome,” tight end Jake Tonges said.
Bourne credited teammates for telling him to “move on,” and he did just that, catching 10-of-11 targets for a career-high 142 yards. He also had a drop and an illegal-formation penalty.
Jones was among those encouraging his former New England Patriots teammate, and Bourne praised his QB.
“You can tell he’s confident. It’s awesome to see him in this space,” Bourne said. “To see him in New England was a different world. He’s playing free and having fun.” That later line defines Bourne’s style, which the 49ers are desperate and lucky to enlist.
6. TONGES’ TOUCHDOWNS
George Kittle’s absence remains glaring, more so by how poorly the 49ers are functioning without his run blocking and yards after the catch. But the 49ers are getting more out of Tonges than perhaps any of Kittle’s fellow tight ends since his mentor, Garrett Celek.
Tonges capped their opening drive with a 6-yard touchdown catch, two plays after a 6-yard reception. It was his third career score, with one last game and his first coming in Week 1 to beat Seattle on Purdy’s prayer.
Tonges on the tight finishes each game: “We seem to have a lot of them. Hopefully we’re getting used to them.”
7. THE SUPER SUB
Of all the players who’ve replaced others this season, no one has succeeded more than kicker Eddy Pineiro, Jake Moody’s Week 2 successor.
Pineiro’s overtime winner came from 41 yards, and his preceding kick was the second-longest in 49ers history (63 yards, David Akers, 2012 at Green Bay).
Pineiro’s 4-for-4 success Thursday made him 11-for-11 on field goals after missing an initial point-after kick in New Orleans. “Eddy, I like him a lot, he’s cool,” Jones said.
Pineiro’s 59-yard field goal was the 49ers’ second-longest behind David Akers’ 63-yard winner in 2012 at Green Bay. “We were pretty close on that line. Debated it for a little bit, but we said, ‘Screw it. Let’s see what he’s got,’” Shanahan said.
Pineiro’s postgame interviews made him late to the locker room celebration but the 49ers will allow it, the further they distance themselves from Jake Moody’s hold-your-breath era.
8. SEE CMC
Christian McCaffrey wears a captain’s patch on his chest. The Superman logo must be under the uniform. Forget about the fact that he hasn’t been a 100-yard rusher this season, when he has been summoned so much to cover the 49ers’ depth at wide receiver. This was his 62nd career game with 100-plus scrimmage yards.
“He’s the man. He’s definitely good at his job and is always out there no matter what,” Jones said. “He’s dealing with stuff, too.”
McCaffrey overcame calf soreness ahead of Week 1. He’s since totaled a NFL-best 669 yards (282 rushing, 387 receiving). “Everyone was counting us out this week but I trusted him as my safety blanket, and we had the. tight ends and wide receivers too,” Jones added.
9. PENALTY TIME
Lenoir called his three defensive-holding penalties “very” questionable. “If I’m on a guy at the line and he can’t get off, that’s not my fault. That happened a lot,” Lenoir said.
He wasn’t the only 49er to draw three penalties. So did right tackle Colton McKivitz, for holding, a false start, and being an ineligible man downfield.
10. RULING THE DIVISION
The 49ers have beaten each of their NFC West counterparts. This one was their most valued.
“It was definitely the biggest challenge considering I thought they were the best defense in the NFL and they are,” Jones said. “They’re really good. Our defense is really good too.“
Shanahan is 11-6 against the Rams (and McVay). More relevant to this season, the 49ers are 4-1 in one-score games.
“We’ve been in tight ones all…how many have we had? All five of them,” Shanahan said. “We had a chance to pull out last week, we didn’t. We pulled this one out and I can’t be more proud of the guys.”