Joshua Karty kicked four field goals and the Los Angeles Rams survived a slugfest a week after winning, beating the San Francisco 49ers 12-6 on Thursday night in a key game in the NFC West race.
Four days after beating Josh Allen and Buffalo 44-42 in the NFL's highest-scoring game of the season, the Rams (8-6) rolled past the 49ers (6-8 ) on a rainy night to move within a semifinal game. – leads Seattle.
Los Angeles won a game without a goal for the first time since 2016.
The Niners led 6-3 entering the fourth quarter but came up short, dealing a major blow to the dwindling playoff hopes of the defending NFC champions.
It marked the fourth time this season that the Niners lost to a division opponent after leading by at least three points in the fourth quarter, making them the first team from New England to do so in 2000 in coach Bill Belichick's first season with the Patriots.
Karty capped a 17-play drive with a game-tying 23-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter and then hit a 27-yarder after Matthew Stafford connected on a 51-yard pass to Puka Nacua.
The Niners then drove into the field but Brock Purdy was intercepted on a pass deep into the end zone by Darious Williams, helping the Rams secure their first series sweep against the 49ers from 2018.
Stafford then led a clock-killing drive that capped Karty's fourth goal with 18 seconds to play. Stafford went 16 for 27 for 160 yards with almost all of the damage coming in the second half.
Purdy finished 14 for 31 for 142 yards as the Niners failed to score in a game for the first time since 2019.
The first half was played in pouring rain which had a major impact on the offensive performances and neither team could move the ball.
The Rams didn't have a lead in their first four runs of a game for the first time since 2013 before scoring a late touchdown. The Niners went three and out three times and scored one field goal.
The teams combined for 11 punts, nine first downs and 197 yards four days after both had season highs in punts.
The rain mostly stopped at half time but the offenses were still struggling.
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated Sky TVstreaming service NOW and the The Sky Sports app – giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Stream the new EFL season, Test cricket and more top sports with NOW.
