Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 350

49ers waste the game of Jauan Jennings’ life in loss to Rams

As depressing as it is to ponder a legendary faceplant by the 49ers Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams, consider how bad it would be if they hadn’t ponied up and signed their best receiver.

We’re not talking about Brandon Aiyuk, who caught five passes for 48 yards and signed a four-year contract worth $30 million per season in the days leading up to the season.

The guy that mattered the most was Jauan Jennings, the former “Third-and-Jauan” who was a man for all downs with Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey sidelined. Jennings had career highs with 11 receptions, 175 yards and three touchdowns.

Jennings and quarterback Brock Purdy (22 of 30, 292 yards, three touchdowns) carried the 49ers’ passing game and both did enough to win. Instead, Purdy was standing at the postgame podium explaining the 49ers’ second consecutive loss and Jennings escaped the locker room without talking to reporters after the game of his life.

In the offseason, Jennings, a 2022 seventh-round draft pick, was a restricted free agent and the 49ers gave him a two-year contract worth $15 million overall with $8.4 million guaranteed.

“Jauan was unbelievable,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I think the numbers show it, but more than the numbers, he was a warrior the whole game. He’s always like that, but got a lot of opportunities today and was automatic on every single one.”

Jennings had touchdown receptions of 13 yards, 4 yards and 31 yards from Purdy, the last one giving the 49ers a 21-7 lead with 7:01 remaining.

His first touchdown came on a wide-open play where Aiyuk drew coverage toward him.

Word on the street: He's still running pic.twitter.com/Xoiv2qOIGL

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 22, 2024

“It started with B.A. backside, and J.J. sort of bluffed like he was blocking and slipped up the seam,” Purdy said. “He was my second read and he was wide open. Great play call.”

Jennings did his most impressive work when he wasn’t all by his lonesome. He somehow stole a ball from Quintin Lake for a 32-yard gain that helped set up the field goal that put the 49ers up 24-13 with 11:57 left.

He made at least two receptions where he was surrounded by three defenders, with Shanahan saying afterwards he wondered about the wisdom of even throwing him the ball.

“Even on some bad looks, when I didn’t know if the ball should go there, you quickly saw afterward they weren’t going to take the ball away from Jauan,” Shanahan said. “He was very inspiring today with the way he played.”

He told us he had these hands covered

#SFvsLAR on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/bWJnQ2UeYV

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) September 22, 2024

According to Associated Press stats maven Josh Dubow, only three 49ers receivers have ever had a game with 10 or more catches, 175 or more yards and three or more touchdowns. The other two — Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens — are in the Hall of Fame.

Jennings caught his career-high 11 passes on 12 targets. His previous career highs were also at SoFi Stadium as a rookie in the 2021 regular-season finale: Six catches for 94 yards with two scores, a 24-yard pass from Jimmy Garoppolo and a 14-yarder on a reverse from Samuel.

The 49ers celebrated that day, winning 27-24 in overtime to clinch a playoff berth.

It was the reverse of last season’s Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs, when Jennings looked as if he could be the Most Valuable Player as the former Tennessee quarterback threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey and caught a 10-yard pass from Purdy for a 16-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. The 49ers, of course, lost 25-22 in overtime.

“I absolutely love Jauan,” Purdy said. “Just the way he comes in and sparks energy and his love for the game, you can feel it. You can see it. I’ll go to war with him every day of the week.”

As for Aiyuk, he now has 10 receptions for 119 yards with no touchdowns in three games. It’s also worth noting he has never had a game where he caught 11 passes. Never had a game where he scored three touchdowns. Never had a game with 175 yards receiving.

That’s not to say Aiyuk had zero impact against the Rams, because with Samuel, Kittle and McCaffrey all missing, he was surely a focal point of the Rams defense on more plays than just Jennings’ first touchdown. He was targeted 10 times, just one fewer than Jennings.

Purdy said he simply went where the reads and progressions took him against the Rams, and where it took him rather than zeroing in on a specific receiver.

“I just think it comes with the opportunities you get in games with looks,” Purdy said. “It’s not so I’m dropping back and saying, ‘We’re not ready yet, I’m not going to get him the ball.’ It has nothing to do with that. It’s, ‘What’s my read? Is it the right look here with B.A.?’ We’re scheming stuff up to give him a great position to win and get him the ball, but defenses are doing a good job of scheming some stuff, they get me off my reads and I go to other guys.

“We’re going to continue to work so we can get on the same page. I absolutely love B.A. He’s working really hard right now and I can tell you we’re going to continue to grow together.”

Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers’ embarrassing loss to the Rams was months in the making San Francisco 49ers | What the 49ers said after falling apart late vs. Rams San Francisco 49ers | Studs and Duds: The 49ers’ collapse can be tied to three players San Francisco 49ers | Instant analysis of 49ers’ 27-24 loss to the Rams after late collapse San Francisco 49ers | Live 49ers updates: Shorthanded Niners face Rams in NFC West showdown

As if you need further evidence of the kind of leader Purdy is, consider how he handled a drop with 1:08 to play by second-year receiver Ronnie Bell that could have set the 49ers up for a game-winning field goal.

“I don’t know if I had enough juice on it from where I was at in the pocket,” Purdy said. “Just trying to give him a chance. Obviously I could give him a better ball and everything. He’s a young guy, I love him. We’ve all got Ronnie’s back, so we’re going to continue to need him and build him up and we’re all in this together. It’s a team sport. It’s not one play or player.”

Not usually anyway, although for a long time Sunday it looked like the player who made the biggest difference was Jauan Jennings.

Kurtenbach: The 49ers’ embarrassing loss to the Rams was months in the making

We should have seen it coming.

After all, the seeds of the 49ers’ incredible implosion against the Rams on Sunday, which dropped the defending NFC champions to 1-2 on the season, were sown this past offseason.

It wasn’t bad coaching decisions from Kyle Shanahan that undercut the Niners in the 27-24 loss.

Their quarterback, Brock Purdy, was exceptional on Sunday, too.

But if you believe the analytics, the Niners had, at multiple points, a 95 percent chance of winning their contest against the Rams.

They somehow found that other five percent. And they needed all three phases of the game—offense, defense, and special teams — to do it.

While it was a group effort in futility, Sunday’s loss really came down to two plays, made by two players who should never have been on the 49ers’ roster.

Two players that were in the game because of injuries to top options and bad planning from San Francisco’s front office.

The Niners might have lost this game in the final three minutes Sunday, but it was really lost in March and August.

That’s when the 49ers signed linebacker De’Vondre Cambell.

And that’s when the Niners kept Ronnie Bell on the team’s active roster.

Those two players were at the epicenter of Sunday’s implosion. Bell was the target of a pass play that should have won the game for the 49ers with 68 seconds remaining. Campbell was targeted by the Rams on the subsequent possession, setting up the game-winning field goal.

Why were they out there?

Because the 49ers had no other choice but to play them.

The Niners built a stars-and-scrubs roster for this season, using the same model they used last season. Only last season, the Niners were one of the least injured teams in the NFL.

Obviously, the Niners are not twice lucky. Nothing has gone right for San Francisco in 2024. To think they would be after a run to the Super Bowl is to laugh in the face of history.

On offense, San Francisco was down their top three offensive weapons: Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle. Meanwhile, Brandon Aiyuk is still not playing at the same speed he displayed last season, a byproduct of missing training camp after months of contract disputes.

Aiyuk, you’ll remember, had not signed a new Niners contract the day NFL teams had to cut their rosters to 53 men. With Aiyuk not practicing, the Niners kept Bell — pick No. 253 in the 2023 draft — as a seventh wide receiver. They wanted another pass-catcher in case Aiyuk’s holdout continued (it lasted two more days), and Bell was deemed the best option even though he had a near-comical issue with drops in camp.

And Bell has remained on the roster amid injuries and Aiyuk’s sluggish start. Laying low is sometimes the right plan at work.

It turns out the Niners did need him this season. Amid all the injuries, he was the third option at receiver on Sunday.

He was targeted twice in the game. He dropped both passes, which were thrown right on his hands, in perfect position. The second drop took what could have — should have — been a game-winning play off the board.

Of course, a Bell drop wasn’t the only thing that did in the Niners.

The Niners controlled the game for hours, embarrassing their so-called rivals in their house and riling up a crowd where the red greatly outnumbered the blue.

In the end, the red team sang the blues, and the Niners were the team left feeling embarrassed.

And it all happened so fast. A field goal to give the Niners a two-possession lead with 2:48 to play was missed. The next snap, the Rams went 50 yards the other way, and the game was tied two plays later.

Then came Bell’s drop, wiping a 23-yard gain — that would have put the Niners in field-goal range to win the contest — off the board.

A sack and 38-yard punt return later, Campbell entered the picture.

The Rams had been attacking Campbell, the former All-Pro linebacker, in the passing game all contest. The Rams’ first touchdown, a 15-yard pass to running back Kyren Williams, was run directly at Campbell — there wasn’t an ounce of ambiguity about it.

They had seen the tape of the season’s first two games — they knew he couldn’t manage in the open field anymore. And Rams coach Sean McVay — perhaps the finest playcaller in the NFL — dialed up something diabolical when his team needed big yards fast.

He motioned out his tight end, Colby Parkinson, forcing Campbell to play one-on-one defense against him outside the right numbers. Campbell couldn’t keep up with Parkinson as he ran down the field, so he didn’t look back when the ball was thrown directly at him, resulting in an easy pass interference call.

It was 25 free yards, cashed in at the perfect time. The Rams kicked the game-winning field goal two snaps later.

Why was Campbell on the field as an easy target for McVay?

Because the Niners’ first-choice starting weak-side linebacker, Dre Greenlaw, tore his Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl and is sidelined until the second half of this season, at best.

Campbell is on this team because the 49ers didn’t draft well enough to have a go-to replacement for Greenlaw already on the roster.

He’s on the team because the first linebacker they signed in free agency — Eric Kendricks — balked at joining San Francisco after the Dallas Cowboys came in with a bigger, better offer after news leaked Kendricks and the Niners had agreed to a deal. Kendricks has 29 tackles through his first three games.

So the Niners went with Campbell, who was outplayed in training camp by Dee Winters but was given the job because of seniority. Winters, it must be noted, has also dealt with injuries recently.

All that, to be a sitting duck on a play that could well define the Niners’ season.

This isn’t to exonerate Jake Moody, who missed a 55-yard field that could have won the game with under three minutes to play. Nor is it to say that special teams coordinator Brian Schneider is doing a good job for San Francisco.

Countless plays did the Niners in on Sunday.

But the two biggest blunders came from two players that, frankly, should not have been on the field had the Niners’ front office done a better job.

The Niners have the quarterback to win big games. They have the head coach, too, even though forces I don’t understand and from which would like to distance myself have clearly cursed him.

And while the NFL is a league seemingly defined by those two roles, the fact remains it takes a full team to win or lose.

The Niners’ roster is simply not good enough, top to bottom, to believe they’ll repeat as NFC West champions, much less conference or Super Bowl champions.

If it isn’t the big, blow-up plays by second-or-third choice players, it’s the lack of quality play on the offensive line, or the defensive line, or the secondary, which is testing its depth after a poor start to the season.

And while some of those Niners’ stars will return in the weeks to come, making this team better in the process, others will miss time around that time, testing the roster in a new way.

The Niners built a top-heavy roster.

That means they banked on luck being on their side.

Clearly, that’s not the case.

To be 1-2 amid the stretch of the season where they should be racking up wins (the second half of their schedule is brutal) shows exactly how flawed that plan was.

Sunday’s game is the kind of contest that can define a season.

And for the injury-ravaged, down-on-their-luck Niners, that’s just another bit of bad news.

What the 49ers said after falling apart late vs. Rams

The 49ers lost their second straight game, dropping to 1-2 on the season, via an astounding collapse in Los Angeles against the Rams for a 27-24 loss.

San Francisco led by 14 points twice in the game and 10 points in the fourth quarter, holding an advantage for more than 54 minutes.

The Rams scored on their final four drives of the game, including a field goal and a touchdown within the game’s final two minutes after a missed 55-yard field goal try by Jake Moody.

Jauan Jennings was an ultra-bright spot for the 49ers, making 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns. The 49ers recorded six drops as a team, including one by Ronnie Bell on a pass that might would have put them in range to try a winning field goal in the final seconds.

Brock Purdy completed 22-of-30 passes for 292 yards and those three touchdowns to Jennings. He was sacked once, losing a fumble before halftime.

Jordan Mason led the 49ers in rushing with 77 yards on 19 carries. Kyren Williams scored three times for the Rams, twice on the ground (24 attempts for 89 yards) and once on a 15-yard catch-and-run.

Kyle Shanahan

On his message to the team:

Just how disappointing of a loss that was. I know everyone was pissed without them having to tell me. And we should be. When you have a game like that where you feel you have every chance to win and you don’t get it done, those are usually the most disappointing ones.

On Purdy:

It seemed like Brock played his ass off from what I saw. He made a bunch of big plays He took some good shots down the field It was tough to not come up with that one on the last drive, especially after missing that field goal. When stuff wasn’t there, he did a hell of a job scrambling, making off-schedule plays.

On losing two in a row:

Last year, we lost three in a row, so you know how that’s going to be regardless. We lost three in a row after winning five in a row, but still I know how that felt then. I know how our guys feel now. I know how we felt all week. Had a real good week at practice, thought it would carry over to the game and it did in a lot of areas. That’s why I thought we had a chance to not only win but run away with it.

On not putting Rams away:

There were some big third downs where we could have got off the field, obviously the fake punt where we should have got off the field. But you let teams hang around in this league, let alone with that type of quarterback, that stuff happens more often than not.

On Bell’s drop:

Yeah, anybody does. There’s other catches in the game that you hope it doesn’t have to come down to that. Ronnie would say the same thing.

On putting Bell in the game:

There’s five (receivers) in the game. We’re rotation a lot of guys in there, and he was the guy out there. Chris Conley got that earlier in the same, but those are the receivers we have up. Ronnie’s been having a hell of a camp, had a hell of a week in practice, but he’s got to come down with that catch.

On Jennings:

Jauan was unbelievable. I think the numbers show it, but more than the numbers, he was a warrior the whole game. He’s always like that. Got a lot more opportunities today and was automatic on every single one. Even some bad looks when I didn’t know if the ball should go there, I quickly saw after that that they weren’t going to take that away from Jauan. He was very inspiring today, how he played.

On the failure to hold onto the lead and win:

We could have ended it on offense, defense or special teams. When all three take their turns there at the end, those are the most frustrating ones.

On kicking the 55-yarder:

There was no consideration. It was fourth-and-5, maybe fourth-and-6, but it was about making it a two-score game. I felt great about him. I don’t feel much different from that distance to 48, he’s been really good with that stuff.

On Javon Hargrave’s triceps injury:

Always when you hear triceps, you think tears and stuff, but from what they told me, they felt it was more of a contusion and stuff. So that’s better news.

On whether the 49ers were in a safe punt return on the fake:

Yeah, we were expecting a fake punt there and they still got our edge.

Nick Bosa

On the loss:

Plenty of opportunities. I can only speak for myself and it wasn’t good enough. We got to close them out when we have a chance.

On whether he felt they were the better team:

It just doesn’t matter when you lose.

On whether this could be a rough run after a rough start:

It’s definitely a rough start but there’s a ton of football to be played. We’ve been through some tough stretches before but we just have to stay together. We have the guys to do it.

On how to lead the team back:

I think we have to feel the loss for sure. We can’t just move on and act like it’s fine. You feel the loss and you just start stacking week by week.

On playing better:

No matter how talented you think you are, you have to play good on Sunday. We’ve been practicing great. It’s not that, it’s just we have to understand what teams are trying to do to us and adjust to it.

On his injury:

I was planning on playing. I definitely wanted to see how it felt, but I think I made out good. … I think it’s more of an oblique than a rib. it actually happened in the Vikings game, and then I aggravated it in practice pretty good.

Brock Purdy

On missed opportunity:

We have a good enough team to finish out a game pretty early and put up points every drive offensively. We’re all pretty frustrated. So we just gotta watch the film, get better from it.

On not putting the game away:

I feel like there were some third downs and stuff, just to stay on the field early on in the game, and then the two-minute right before half — there’s just plays for me where it’s like ‘All right, as an offense, we got to execute and stay on the field, especially when we have momentum.’ And then, you let them play around for a little bit, give them life and then it comes down to a close game like that. Anything can happen at that point.

On Jennings:

He’s a dog, man. Absolutely love Jauan. Just the way he comes in every day, and brings energy to our offense, man, with some huge plays and sparks energy. Just his love for the game, ma, you can see it and you feel it when you’re on the field with him. So I absolutely love that guy. I’ll go to war with him any day of the week.

On how to move forward:

Obviously it’s such a league where you have to turn the page and get ready for the next opponent, but for us it’s like yeah, you really have to look at the film and understand, what did I not do well? What did I do well? What can I continue to get better at? Because it’s going to show up again in the NFL.

On Bell:

He’s a young guy. I love him, man. We’ve all got Ronnie’s back, so we’re going to continue to need him and build him up. We’re all in this together. It’s a team sport, so it’s not one player, one play here. It’s all of them put together.

Fred Warner

On the loss:

Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | 49ers waste the game of Jauan Jennings’ life in loss to Rams San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers’ embarrassing loss to the Rams was months in the making San Francisco 49ers | Studs and Duds: The 49ers’ collapse can be tied to three players San Francisco 49ers | Instant analysis of 49ers’ 27-24 loss to the Rams after late collapse San Francisco 49ers | Live 49ers updates: Shorthanded Niners face Rams in NFC West showdown

It was unacceptable. We can’t do that. We can’t beat ourselves, can’t make those types of mistakes. Again, all three phases gotta play better. We’ll look at the tape, fix it and move on.

On whether this can be a lesson:

Ideally, you don’t want that lesson, right? You want to feel like you got the right guys in the group, you got enough veteran leadership to understand situations and knowing when to put them away. Obviously I put a lot on the defense, especially in uncertain moments to put them away and we were unable to do that.

On whether the team may be too confident:

Honestly, no. I feel like we got the right guys in the building. It’s never a matter of like, man, we were feeling ourselves, thinking that we don’t have to continue to work hard and earn it every single Sunday.

On Williams’ three-TD day:

I got to watch the film. It didn’t feel like we really gave him much of a contest. I feel like a lot of them were walk-ins. We got to be better down there.

Studs and Duds: The 49ers’ collapse can be tied to three players

There are losses, and then there are games that make you question everything.

The 49ers’ loss last week to the Vikings was just a loss. Minnesota played great and the Niners have trouble against that defensive scheme. The loss wasn’t good, but it wasn’t the end of the world, either.

Sunday’s 49ers collapse against the Rams might have brought about that end of the world.

What else would you call a collapse of that magnitude?

The Niners choked away a 14-point second-half lead and 10-point fourth-quarter lead to lose, in regulation, to the Rams and fall to 1-2 on the season.

And if you’re so inclined, here are three studs and three duds from the game. (I imagine the latter will be read first.)

StudsRelated ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | 49ers waste the game of Jauan Jennings’ life in loss to Rams San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers’ embarrassing loss to the Rams was months in the making San Francisco 49ers | What the 49ers said after falling apart late vs. Rams San Francisco 49ers | Instant analysis of 49ers’ 27-24 loss to the Rams after late collapse San Francisco 49ers | Live 49ers updates: Shorthanded Niners face Rams in NFC West showdown

Jauan Jennings

» You couldn’t ask for anything more from the 49ers’ No. 3 wide receiver. With Deebo Samuel and George Kittle out and the Rams’ focus in the pass game, rightly, on Brandon Aiyuk, Jennings needed to step up.

I’d say that two touchdowns, big first downs, and excellent blocking, all in the first quarter, qualify as stepping up.

He ended the game with three touchdowns, on 11 receptions for 175 yards. It was the game of his life, and he would have been the MVP of the Super Bowl this past February.

And again, it was in vain.

Brock Purdy

» Yes, the Niners collapsed, but you’d be hard-pressed to pin this loss on the Niners’ quarterback, who completed 22 of 30 passes for 292 yards and those three aforementioned touchdowns.

Purdy was in complete control of the Niners’ offense, posting a 19.2 total EPA and a 77.6 QBR rating. That’s high-level play.

He also ran for 41 yards on 10 carries and extended plays like prime Russell Wilson.

Had Ronnie Bell caught that fourth-quarter pass, we’d be having a very different conversation about this team. Alas, he did not, but don’t pretend the quarterback is at fault after delivering a perfect throw to the receiver.

Nick Bosa

» The second-best defensive end in Sunday’s game was Sam Okuayinou.

He’s a practice squad player who was called up for the game and played limited snaps.

So no, Nick Bosa didn’t get much help against the Rams.

But he still made an impact, consistently blowing up plays in the backfield, giving the Niners’ defense a chance Sunday.

The stat sheet won’t show it, but he had a great game.

DUDS

De’Vondre Campbell

» Was attacked again and again and again, with the biggest exploitation coming on the game-changing defensive play, when Matt Stafford threw to Colby Parkinson down the right sideline, knowing that Campbell was in one-on-one coverage and wouldn’t stand a chance of defending it.

He was right. After all, he had burned Campbell in the red zone for a touchdown pass earlier in the game.

Two plays after the pass interference call on Campbell, the Rams kicked a game-winning field goal.

Campbell has struggled mightily so far this season, and the Niners don’t have an apparent healthy replacement on the roster.

But until the Niners coaching staff decides to roll the dice with someone else, expect these plays to become commonplace.

Ronnie Bell

» Bell had two passes thrown to him on Sunday.

Both clanked off his hands in an almost cartoonish fashion.

The first wasn’t a game-changer. Drops happen. (Especially with Bell.)

The second lost the 49ers the game. There’s no sugarcoating it.

On second-and-7 from their own 43-yard line, in a tied game with 1:08 to play, Brock Purdy threw a perfect pass to Bell just outside the right numbers on the field at the Los Angeles 35-yard line.

The pass hit Bell, who was facing the quarterback, in both hands, right in front of his face.

CLANK.

Had he caught the pass, the Niners would have been in field goal range and likely would have won a few snaps later.

Instead, Purdy was pressured on the subsequent third-down play, as center Jake Brendel was pushed onto his rear (again), and the Niners’ quarterback had to scramble for two yards. The Niners’ punt was returned to the 50-yard line, and then Campbell happened.

Charvarius Ward

» His tackling in the run game has been extremely suspect, and opposing teams have figured it out, going right at him, particularly in big moments.

They’re now attacking Ward in the passing game, too. Ward’s coverage has been anything but elite in the last two games, and his being burned by Tutu Atwell late in the fourth quarter on Sunday, setting up the game-tying touchdown, showed that the Rams were waiting for the right moment to burn him.

Between Campbell and Ward, Sunday, Rams coach Sean McVay dialed up some diabolical plays to attack two weak links at just the right time.

Evil genius stuff.

Instant analysis of 49ers’ 27-24 loss to the Rams after late collapse

INGLEWOOD – Jauan Jennings’ three touchdown catches — and 11 receptions overall for 175 yards — should have been enough for the 49ers to bury a wounded Rams team Sunday.

Instead, the 49ers blew it.

The shorthanded Rams pulled out their first win of the season by rallying from a 24-14, fourth-quarter deficit to claim a 27-24 home-opening victory at SoFi Stadium, where the majority of fans wore red 49ers jerseys — and unhappy faces as they exited.

“I know everyone was pissed without them having to tell me. And we should be,” coach Kyle Shanahan said of the locker room scene. “When you have a game like that, where you feel you have every chance to win and don’t get it done, those are usually the more disappointing ones. All three phases had their (say) in that.”

As was the case in the 2021 season’s regular-season finale here, the 49ers blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead.

Joshua Karty’s 37-yard field goal with two seconds remaining gave the Rams their first lead — and the only one they needed to hand the 49ers (1-2) a second straight road loss.

“We need to feel the loss. We can’t move on and think it’s fine,” defensive end Nick Bosa said.

The 49ers attempted a seven-lateral desperation play in the final seconds and reached Rams territory before Jake Brendel’s toss to Brandon Aiyuk bounded out of bounds to end one of the 49ers’ most frustrating losses in years. It was also their first regular-season defeat at SoFi Stadium in five years.

The 49ers, after back-to-back road games, return to Levi’s Stadium to host the New England Patriots and then the Arizona Cardinals over the next two Sundays. The Rams avoided their first 0-3 start since 2011, when they were stationed in St. Louis and finished 2-14 that year.

“It’s definitely a rough start but there’s a ton of football to be played,” Bosa said. “We’ve been through rough stretches before. We have to stay together and we have the guys to do it.”

Do they, though? The 49ers played Sunday without three offensive stars — running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles; injured reserve), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf), and tight end George Kittle (hamstring).

Of Jennings’ 11 receptions for 175 yards, three came on the offense’s final series, when they needed one more catch from him or anyone else. Afterward, he got dressed at his locker, declined to speak to reporters and exited the locker room, having done enough talking on the field.

The 49ers needed their defense to protect a 24-17 lead with 2:43 remaining. They couldn’t. Rams running back Kyren Williams matched Jennings with a third touchdown in this NFC West battle, tying the score at 24 with 1:51 to go in regulation. That game-tying drive by the Rams opened with Matthew Stafford completing a 50-yard strike to Tutu Atwell at the 5-yard line against Charvarius Ward’s coverage.

The 49ers’ ensuing drive didn’t even take a minute off the clock, hindered most by a Ronnie Bell drop of a long second-and-10 pass deep in Rams territory.

That offensive failure, which followed 49ers defensive failures, set the stage for yet another special teams gaffe. On a day the momentum swung on a Rams fake punt, Jake Moody missed a 55-yard field goal with 2:43 remaining and the special teams’ final blow was allowing a 38-yard punt return to reach midfield, setting up the Rams’ deciding field goal.

The 49ers had settled for a 26-yard field goal from Moody for a 24-14 lead, seemingly healthy enough to protect over the game’s final 12 minutes. That 13-play, 62-yard scoring drive opened, of course, with Jennings’ catches of 32 and 14 yards, then Brock Purdy’s runs kept the sticks moving until Moody was summoned.

The Rams responded with their own field goal, a 33-yarder that followed Sam Okuayinonu’s third-down sack.

The 49ers figured to have scored their win-clinching play when Purdy connected on a 31-yard touchdown pass to Jennings, who kept running through the end zone into the SoFi Stadium tunnel with his right index finger pointing in the air. That made it 21-7 and was the dagger the 49ers needed, the type of third-down conversion that proved this offense could survive without McCaffrey, Samuel and Kittle.

However, Jennings’ third score came only midway through the third quarter. That allowed ample time for a Rams comeback. Purdy threw touchdown passes to Jennings on the 49ers’ opening two drives, and it looked like a rout was on, until the Rams resorted to a fake punt to keep alive a touchdown drive and pull within 14-7.

Jennings’ only previous game with two touchdown receptions was here in the 2021 regular-season finale, a 27-24 win. He entered this visit anticipating plenty of targets, and he delivered some heroics that triggered memories of his two-touchdown show in February’s Super Bowl loss.

Purdy completed 22-of-30 passes for 292 yards, and he also ran 10 times for 41 yards to give the 49ers a complementary rushing effort next to starter Jordan Mason, who had 19 carries for 77 yards after reaching 100 yards in each of his two preceding starts in place of McCaffrey.

While so much pregame focus was on whether Brandon Aiyuk would live up to his extension paying $30 million annually, it was Jennings who produced in the red zone and further validated the two-year, $15 million contract he signed in May as an apparent bargain. Jennings’ most acrobatic catch came in the third quarter: an over-the-back, 32-yard reception. Purdy went back to Jennings two snaps later for a 14-yard grab amid three defenders.

After Jennings’ third touchdown, the Rams answered with their own touchdown drive, capped by Kyren Williams’ 3-yard scoring run once Renardo Green’s holding penalty set up first-and-goal. Williams scored the Rams’ previous touchdown on a 15-yard catch-and-run-and-flip over the goal line 1:11 before halftime to pull the Rams within 14-7.

Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | 49ers waste the game of Jauan Jennings’ life in loss to Rams San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers’ embarrassing loss to the Rams was months in the making San Francisco 49ers | What the 49ers said after falling apart late vs. Rams San Francisco 49ers | Studs and Duds: The 49ers’ collapse can be tied to three players San Francisco 49ers | Live 49ers updates: Shorthanded Niners face Rams in NFC West showdown

In the 49ers’ ever-concerning injury tally, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave joined the list with what Shanahan said might only be a triceps contusion. Dee Winters exited with a first-half ankle injury as the only other wounded player listed by Shanahan. Afterward, Fred Warner noted that his ankle got dinged near the goal line. Bosa said he injured an oblique in last Sunday’s loss at Minnesota before aggravating it Thursday in practice and prompting the 49ers to list a rib issue for his limited participation.

In the end, the 49ers collapsed without their offensive stars. They are now in the NFC West cellar with the Rams (1-2) and the Arizona Cardinals (1-2), while the Seattle Seahawks are 3-0.

SF Giants shut out Royals for second day in a row to complete only 3rd sweep of season

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Coming off their most disappointing home stand of the season, Bob Melvin had a directive for his club.

“We realized that we can’t just let the season end,” the Giants’ skipper said before their series finale against the Royals. “We’ve got to win some games and dig a little bit harder.”

Message received.

On the same road trip they were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention, there’s a strong case to be made the Giants (77-79) are playing their best baseball of the season. Their series against the playoff-hopeful Royals (82-74) ended the same way as their series against another American League contender began, with a shutout win — 2-0 — behind Blake Snell in tip-top form.

“Getting two in Baltimore, then sweeping the Royals — those are playoff teams — there’s nothing better,” Snell said. “It’s frustrating because we know how good we are, so for us to not get it done the way we could (earlier in the season), that’s frustrating.”

Snell yielded just two hits and one walk over six shutout innings while striking out nine as the Giants swept only their third series of the season. The damp Sunday matinee represented the Giants’ 12th chance this season to complete a sweep but they had been successful only in their two tries against the lowly Rockies.

“It’s just nice to get a sweep,” Melvin said afterward.

Despite objectively having less at stake than their opponents, the Giants have gone 5-1 and outscored them 31-9.

“It speaks a lot about how we want to win, we’re not just going to cave in,” Snell said. “We’re want to play, we want to win, we want to make it hard on these teams to beat us. We’re doing a great job of that. We’re all playing for a lot right now. Bob has made that very clear.”

“We’re just playing well right now,” Melvin added. “That’s all. That’s all we need to worry about. It’s a much different group right now than what we saw earlier in the season, what we started with. I’m just happy that some of the younger guys are developing, and quite of them are. I think that bodes well going into next season.”

One important asset that only showed up in the second half of the season is Snell, who only recorded his first double-digit strikeout game of the season on July 27 and yet still came one punchout away from matching Chris Sale, Garrett Crochet and Tyler Glasnow for the most in the majors (six).

Snell issued his lone walk to lead off the second inning, then responded by striking out the next five hitters he faced. He used his curveball to put away six of his nine strikeout victims and said he “found some things out the last two days” after ditching the pitch for a slider-changeup combo in his last start against the Orioles, when he struck out 12 over six scoreless innings.

In 14 starts since returning from the injured list July 9, Snell has a 1.23 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 80⅓ innings. With one start left this season — Saturday against St. Louis — he has lowered his season ERA in the 20 total times he’s taken the mound to 3.12, after it sat at 9.51 when he landed on the IL for a second time June 2.

“I wish I could’ve done it sooner,” Snell said. “I wish I was healthier. I wish I would’ve slowed down and listened to myself more. But it’s learning moments. Everything that happened, I’m happy about it. I learned a lot. I got better.”

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Blake Snell throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

As a team, the Giants have thrown three shutouts through the first six games of the trip after doing it eight times in their first 150 games of the season. Following a 9-0 win Saturday, they recorded back-to-back shutouts for the first time since Aug. 2, when Snell threw a no-hitter.

They’ve limited the Royals and Orioles to nine runs in six games, a team ERA of 1.51.

“Starters showed out, bullpen showed out, two shutouts, and what, one run the first game?” Snell said.

Informed that, in fact, they had tossed three shutouts on the trip, Snell let out an extended “Ooooooooh.”

“That’s huge,” he said.

After a sloppy home stand in the field, they also have gone the first six games of the trip without committing an error.

And although their bats produced only two runs in Sunday’s series finale, the offense also appears to have woken up after being shut out three times while dropping their previous four games at Oracle Park. They have recorded two of their top 13 single-game outputs of the season and scored first in every contest.

Related ArticlesSan Francisco Giants | SF Giants score early and often with 5 home runs to power Landen Roupp’s first career win in 9-0 rout of Royals San Francisco Giants | Marco Luciano discusses his up-and-down rookie season and what’s next for SF Giants’ top prospect San Francisco Giants | SF Giants beat Royals, 2-1, despite Camilo Doval nearly blowing Mason Black’s first career win San Francisco Giants | Jordan Hicks’ season ends as SF Giants place right-hander on injured list San Francisco Giants | SF Giants officially eliminated from playoff contention on Orioles’ walk-off homer

Against Seth Lugo, who shared a rotation with Snell under Melvin in San Diego last season, the Giants put up a two-spot in the second inning for all the scoring they would need to secure their first sweep since they took four from the Rockies in the final week of July.

Jerar Encarnacion got things started with a sharp single to center field and scored from first base when Grant McCray tripled into the gap in right-center field. With the speedy McCray on third, Tyler Fitzgerald fouled off two bunt attempts and went down swinging, but Brett Wisely delivered a piece of timely hitting to extend the lead to 2-0, poking a two-strike, two-out curveball in front of Tommy Pham in left field.

“That’s just two-out, two-strike hitting,” Melvin said. “It’s something that we have, at times, not been great about this year — two-out RBIs. That was a key one because one (run) to two (runs) feels like a big swing with Blake on the mound.”

Notable

Encarnacion laced his second-inning single at 115 mph off the bat, tying him with Joc Pederson for the Giants’ third-hardest hit ball of the Statcast era (since 2015).

At the behest of Matt Chapman, the Giants’ rookies were all dressed up as Oompa Loompas for their flight to Arizona. Except Sean Hjelle. He was Willy Wonka, replete with a top hat and cane. “It’s because I’m their favorite rookie,” Hjelle said. Or because his 6-11 frame was too large for another costume.

Up next

The Giants wrap up their final road trip of the season with three games against the Diamondbacks. RHP Hayden Birdsong (4-5, 4.74) flew there ahead of the club (getting a pass on rookie dress-up day) and will start the first game of the series against LHP Eduardo Rodríguez (3-3, 5.09). First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. PT.

Live 49ers updates: Shorthanded Niners face Rams in NFC West showdown

The 49ers are missing several of their top players as they open NFC West play at SoFi Stadium against the Rams: Christian McCaffrey (calf/Achilles); Deebo Samuel (calf); George Kittle (hamstring).

One former All-Pro is returning to the San Francisco lineup, though, in safety Talanoa Hufanga, who suffered a torn ACL last November and will dress Sunday for the first time since. Nick Bosa and Charvarius Ward were also questionable this week but are active Sunday

The Rams will also be without key players as star wideouts Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua are both out; Nacua is on injured reserve with a knee injury stemming from Week 1 while Kupp was ruled out with an ankle injury suffered last week. Los Angeles already has five offensive linemen on IR.

Related ArticlesSan Francisco 49ers | 49ers waste the game of Jauan Jennings’ life in loss to Rams San Francisco 49ers | Kurtenbach: The 49ers’ embarrassing loss to the Rams was months in the making San Francisco 49ers | What the 49ers said after falling apart late vs. Rams San Francisco 49ers | Studs and Duds: The 49ers’ collapse can be tied to three players San Francisco 49ers | Instant analysis of 49ers’ 27-24 loss to the Rams after late collapse

Given the injuries to pass-catchers, both teams could feature a run-heavy attacking the divisional showdown. Jordan Mason rushed for triple digits each of the first two weeks, his first two career starts. Rookie Isaac Guerendo saw his first career carry last week and could have a few more to spell Mason with part-time rusher Samuel out. Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings figure to be Brock Purdy’s top targets in the passing game.

The Rams have struggled on the ground: Kyren Williams has 75 yards on 30 carries over the first two games to lead them. Matt Stafford will look to Tutu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson with Nacua and Kupp injured.

Follow along below for live updates:

Horoscopes Sept. 22, 2024: Joan Jett, put your energy where it matters

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Tom Felton, 37; Bonnie Hunt, 63; Andrea Bocelli, 66; Joan Jett, 66.

Happy Birthday: Say no to interference; refuse to let anything or anyone stand between you and your dreams. It’s time to put your energy where it matters and will bring you the highest return. You will reap the rewards if you are true to yourself, dedicated to finishing what you start and let your creativity determine the process and delivery you choose to reach your objective this year. Your numbers are 4, 10, 22, 29, 34, 45, 48.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Verify information before you buy into something. Creating and making your dreams come true instead of supporting someone else’s is important. Consider the prospects but be reasonable and start with baby steps. Observe, listen and readjust information or a formula to suit your needs. 4 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Rethink your long-term financial plan and professional goals. A change may be in your best interest with an adjustment to your qualifications. Someone you reach out to or research you pursue will spark your imagination and help your plans. Prospects look promising. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Share your emotions and base the changes you implement on the response you receive. Take a critical look at what you do for a living, how you present and market yourself, and what your end goal is, and you’ll come up with a plan that is within reach. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Plan to have fun and participate in outings or events that stimulate your mind and make you want to implement physical activity into your routine. Actions will rejuvenate and remind you of what it’s like to feel alive. Nurture friendships and be honest regarding your intentions and feelings. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Observe what’s happening around you. Refrain from revealing personal information or sharing gossip; it will put your reputation at stake. Focus on making a difference and donating time or skills to a group or concern, and you’ll find an outlet for your energy that serves you well. 2 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Embrace life and do what you love doing most. Turn your ideas into something tangible, run the show and be proud of your accomplishments. Confidence will help you find your footing and encourage you to complete your mission. Intelligence coupled with creativity will bear fruit. 5 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Gather information, readdress your thoughts and plans, and broaden your perspective regarding the possibilities. Be honest about your home, overhead and the best way to move forward without revoking your lifestyle. Practicality will help you make wise choices and financial gains that help you sustain your status quo. 5 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Keep tabs on your health and well-being. Don’t take an unnecessary risk that can lead to unwanted viruses. Pay attention to detail, and you’ll devise a creative plan that encourages you to learn something new, engage in a healthier lifestyle and spend time with the people you love. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Be careful who you trust or tell your secrets to. Equip yourself with what’s necessary to follow your heart and create opportunities that encourage better results at work and home. A healthy, happy attitude will attract positive attention and support from suitable sources and those you love. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Don’t take no for an answer. Use intelligence, incentives and a detailed look at what you want to accomplish, and you’ll get the feedback you desire. Refrain from taking health risks or pushing yourself too hard physically. A healthy mind, body and soul will be your ticket to success. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Spend time improving your surroundings and choosing relaxing and fun pastimes to do with close buddies. Expanding your routine to fit in affordable activities and take your mind off daily stress will help you formulate a healthy life pattern. 5 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Reconfigure your schedule to meet your demands. Having a plan in place will help alleviate emotional tension and outside interference. Find a way to simplify your life instead of contributing to chaos. Distance yourself from trouble, temptation and excessive behavior. Choose moderation and simplicity over discord and extravagance. 2 stars

Birthday Baby: You are determined, engaging and curious. You are detailed and forthright.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.

Want a link to your daily horoscope delivered directly to your inbox each weekday morning? Sign up for our free Coffee Break newsletter at mercurynews.com/newsletters or eastbaytimes.com/newsletters. 

High School football: Palma dominate in defusing North County

SALINAS — Losses often expose weaknesses.

Two weeks into the season and Palma was putting on an exhibition with its ground game. Unable to be balanced last week, though, shut down the offense in a loss to Arizona State power Yuma Catholic.

“If we are going to win games in our league, we have to establish some sort of balance,” Palma coach Jeff Carnazzo said. “We’ve had the kid gloves on with our sophomore quarterback. It was time to let him go.”

Carnazzo was speaking about Patrick Driscoll, who tossed a pair of touchdown passes Saturday in the Chieftains 40-7 win over North County at Rabobank.

The left-handed Driscoll, who became the starter two days before Palma’s season opener, had thrown just two touchdown passes in the team’s first three games.

“We got the passing game going,” Carnazzo said. “We gave my sophomore quarterback some valuable experience. He distributed the ball to a number of players.”

Palma, which is unbeaten in the state of California, will face reigning six-time Gabilan Division champion Salinas next Friday in both team’s league opener.

Driscoll opened the game with a 45-yard scoring strike to Lucas Milburn, then found Eli Dukes on a 35-yard touchdown pass. Dukes also had a 6-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, alternating carries with two other running backs.

“He (Dukes) had a heavy load last week,” Carnazzo said. “David Garcia ran well for us. We believe we have three backs that can handle the load.”

Garcia had touchdown runs of 14 and 45 yards, while Isaak Hernandez added a 4-yard touchdown run.

Lost in the offensive eruption was the continued dominance of the Chieftains defense, which has allowed just two touchdowns through 16 quarters this year — both coming in the fourth quarter, while recording two shutouts.

Linebackers Caden Scherer and Eli Mercurio were demons on defense for Palma, while Jake Diaz added a pick and Gio Borghezan recovered a fumble.

“The defense played well,” said Carnazzo, who took the Chieftains to the county’s first state football championship last year. “But we will have to play even better next week. Salinas is pretty dynamic.”

The Condors (2-2) avoided being shutout when quarterback AJ Gomez connected with JT Islas on a 2-yard touchdown in the final quarter. A 45-yard catch from Kenji Mellin set up the touchdown.

“We played a great first quarter,” North County coach Juan Cuevas said. “But Palma wore us down. With injuries to our offensive line, we had some guys playing random positions just to finish the game. We believe our league is wide open.”

The Condors will open Mission Division North play next Saturday at Scotts Valley.

San Lorenzo Valley 12, Greenfield 7: Just two teams remain undefeated in the Pacific Coast Athletic League, with the Cougars being one of them at 4-0 after holding off Greenfield.

San Lorenzo Valley, who has matched last year’s entire win total, has knocked off Central Coast Section Division V champion South San Francisco, as well as Mission Division North defending champion Scotts Valley.

Its win over Greenfield avenged a 41-7 loss to the defending Santa Lucia Division champions, who were moved to the Mission Division South this fall.

The Bruins (2-2) took a 7-6 lead just before halftime on a Chris Morris to Hector Garcia touchdown pass. San Lorenzo Valley had an answer in the second half with a touchdown.

Greenfield, who hosts North Salinas next Friday, was held without a point in the second half for the first time all season.

Trinity 30, Hillsbrook 0: Eli Robertson accounted for four touchdowns as the Warriors posted their first shutout in nearly a decade in matching their win total from the previous two years combined at Pacific Grove High.

Robertson caught two touchdown passes and rushed for a pair for Trinity (2-1), accounting 237 rushing and receiving yards.

Carson Anderson was credited with two tackles that kept Hillsbrook out of the end zone for Trinity, while Jacob Kim recovered a fumble.

High School football standings

Pacific Coast Athletic League

Gabilan Division

Aptos (3-1), 0-0

Hollister (3-1), 0-0

Palma (3-1), 0-0

Salinas (2-1), 0-0

Alvarez (2-2), 0-0

Soquel (2-2), 0-0

Monterey (1-2), 0-0

Thursday’s game

Aptos 67, Seaside 6

Friday’s games

Salinas 47, North Salinas 14

Monte Vista 42, Alvarez 34

Hollister 27, Alisal 7

Saturday’s games

Carmel 41, Monterey 28

Soquel 63, Scotts Valley 3

Palma 40, North County 7

Mission Division North

St. Francis (3-1), 0-0

Monte Vista (2-2), 0-0

North County (2-2), 0-0

Watsonville (2-2), 0-0

Alisal (1-3), 0-0

Scotts Valley (1-3), 0-0

Seaside (0-3), 0-0

Thursday’s games

Aptos 67, Seaside 6

St. Francis 41, Harbor 8

Friday’s games

Monte Vista 42, Alvarez 34

Hollister 27, Alisal 7

Saturday’s games

Watsonville 17, Pajaro Valley 2

Palma 40, North County 7

Soquel 63, Scotts Valley 3

Mission Division South

Carmel (4-0), 0-0

Pacific Grove (3-1), 0-0

Greenfield (2-2), 0-0

King City (2-2), 0-0

North Salinas (2-2), 0-0

Soledad (2-2), 0-0

Rancho San Juan (0-4), 0-0

Friday’s games

Soledad 42, Santa Cruz 3

Gonzales 24, King City 23

Marina 35, Rancho San Juan 14

Pacific Grove 33, Stevenson 27

Saturday’s games

Carmel 41, Monterey 28

San Lorenzo Valley 12, Greenfield 7

Santa Lucia Division

San Lorenzo Valley (4-0), 0-0

Gonzales (2-2), 0-0

Harbor (1-2), 0-0

Stevenson (1-2), 0-0

Pajaro Valley (1-3), 0-0

Marina (1-3), 0-0

Santa Cruz (0-4), 0-0

Thursday’s game

St. Francis 41, Harbor 8

Friday’s games

Gonzales 24, King City 23

Pacific Grove 33, Stevenson 27

Soledad 42, Santa Cruz 3

Marina 35, Rancho San Juan 14

Saturday’s games

Watsonville 17, Pajaro Valley 2

San Lorenzo Valley 12, Greenfield 7