If nothing else, Thursday night’s season opening NFC West clash showed us that traveling halfway across the globe in an effort to showcase the sport doesn’t lead to entertaining football. The Rams, who didn’t fly out until Tuesday, looked like, to quote Bob Uecker as Harry Doyle in the classic movie Major League, that they were suffering from propeller lag. They were listless throughout, out of sync and flatter than a can of Coke that was open for three days and left to bake in the Arizona sun in July.
To say that the Rams looked nothing like the Super Bowl favorite that everyone rushed out to anoint after the Myles Garrett trade, and then the Aaron Donald signing, is an understatement. Other than just a giant dud of a performance, it’s a divisional loss and that can rear its ugly head when you least want it to. We’re talking of course, when it comes to playoff time. I’m sure the Rams aren’t nearly as bad as they were Thursday but there wasn’t much that was inspiring.
QUARTERBACKS
Brock Purdy was methodical, leading a 15-play drive on the 49ers’ first possession that chewed up more than seven minutes and ended in a field goal to open the scoring. The next two drives were duds with a three-and-out followed by a Quentin Lake pick on a pass intended for George Kittle. Once the 49ers’ defense got him the ball back, he led them on a nine-play, 86-yard drive for a score to take a 10-7 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Purdy converted a 3rd and 8 with a 13-yard dart to Mike Evans to keep the drive alive before hitting Demarcus Robinson on a 39-yard strike for the score. In the second half, he connected with Mike Evans on a two-yard score and on a 15-yard strike to Deebo Samuel. Purdy finished 25 of 34 for 205 yards with three scores and a pick. He added 29 yards on the ground as well.
On the flip side, Matthew Stafford looked out of sorts. The reigning MVP didn’t throw for a first down until late in the opening quarter. A 41-yard pass play to Puka Nacua set up the Rams’ lone touchdown on the night. Other than that, there wasn’t much to be excited about. He threw a pick to Renardo Green in the second quarter to end a drive in San Francisco territory. Their last best chance to get back in the game came late in the third quarter where they had three cracks from the three-yard line. Stafford was stuffed on fourth-and-goal from the one to turn it over on downs. He finished 15 of 25 for 155 yards and a pick. Stetson Bennett IV, who no one wants to see on the field, was two of three for 13 yards in mop-up duty.
RUNNING BACKS
Christian McCaffrey, who seemed like he was going to be run into the ground last season, actually had a relatively quiet workload in this contest. He had 10 carries for 68 yards with a long of 16. In addition, he caught five of his eight targets for 20 yards in the game as a safety valve out of the backfield. Rookie third-round pick Kaelon Black made his NFL debut and was solid. He had 14 carries for 65 yards, including a 14-yard run. He could be an effective No. 2 back behind McCaffrey and should be added where available. (Jordan James was a healthy scratch.) In the game, the 49ers ran for 174 yards and averaged 5.8 yards per carry.
Los Angeles has two good backs and it turned out to be a pretty even split of the workload in this one. Kyren Williams had 11 carries for 41 and the Rams’ lone touchdown, a five-yard run in the second quarter. He had three catches for 24 yards out of the backfield. Blake Corum seemed to have more success of the two with his 10 carries going for 54 yards. He had the longest run of the pair, a 13-yard jaunt, while Williams’ long was just eight yards. That said, Williams got all the chances in the passing game and the goal-line work, as was the case a year ago, reducing Corum's upside. Ronnie Rivers (five carries, 19 yards, reception, five yards) isn’t someone that anyone is worried about rostering.
WIDE RECEIVERS
San Francisco has Ricky Pearsall done for the year and Christian Kirk on injured reserve as well. They overhauled their starting receiving corps from last year. For Week 1, it worked out all right. Mike Evans (49 yards, TD) and Deebo Samuel (48 yards, TD) each reeled in six passes to lead the team. Samuel also had a 12-yard run as he fit right back into the role he had when he was with the 49ers prior to going to Washington last year. Demarcus Robinson (two catches, 50 yards, TD) was only targeted three times but had the big play with the 39-yard score. One thing to watch: rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling left with an ankle injury. Monitoring his status going forward is a good idea as the team was high on him in camp and he was playing throughout the early series; will be one of the top 3 if healthy.
The Rams have a devastating 1-2 punch but they never really got untracked in this one. Puka Nacua led the way with five catches for 74 yards but two of his catches covered 41 and 23 yards. That means his other three grabs covered just 10 yards. He was targeted nine times. Davante Adams finished with just three catches for 36 yards. He didn’t catch a ball until less than seven minutes remained in the third quarter. You have to think better days are ahead for both of these guys. The less said about Jordan Whittington (catch, eight yards), Konata Mumpfield (no catches) and Tutu Atwell (inactive), the better. Whittington was on the field extensively, at least.
TIGHT ENDS
None of the guys that play the position made much of an impact in stats that, you know, actually get points for in fantasy. Sure, there was some decent blocking and all, though running across leagues that give you points for sealing an edge is like the proverbial water in the desert. George Kittle was targeted five times in his first game since tearing an Achilles in January. He caught just two balls for 12 yards. Luke Farrell had two grabs on his two targets for 19 yards. Farrell may get more run now with Jake Tonges going down with a knee injury in the second quarter.
The Rams have a quartet of tight ends that can make plays, five if you count rookie Max Klare, who was inactive Thursday. None of them made much of an impact though in this contest. Colby Parkinson (reception, six yards) was the leader in playing time, on the field three quarters of the snaps. Tyler Higbee had two catches for 12 yards. He also lost a fumble in Rams’ territory in the fourth quarter that set up a field goal, and played just a dozen snaps. Davis Allen (catch, 13 yards) and Terrance Ferguson (no catches) were non-factors, but note that Ferguson was on the field just over half the time. Allen left with a suspected concussion . When the offense is clicking, the tight ends are involved; Parkinson and Ferguson are the best bets.
MISCELLANEOUS
Eddy Piniero was solid in the kicking game for San Francisco. He hit all three extra point attempts and went two of three on field goal attempts. Piniero converted from 20 and 56 yards while missing a 52-yarder off the right upright with under four minutes to play. Harrison Mevis converted his lone extra point attempt and never tried a field goal in the game. San Francisco owned a 379-290 edge in total offense, won time of possession by a 33:50 to 26:10 margin and forced two turnovers while committing one. Garrett didn’t show up on the stat sheet in the contest.
The Rams are 0-1 in the division and they’ve got a tough closing stretch. They’ll have the rematch at Levi’s Stadium circled for December 13, a game that kicks off a five-game closing stretch that also includes a home game with Dallas, a road game with Tampa Bay and both matchups with Seattle. That’s not really the kind of slate you want to see late in the year, at least on paper. Meanwhile, San Francisco has a pair of interconference games against the Chiefs and Chargers along with tilts against the Eagles and Cardinals following the rematch.
--Chris Kubala
