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Rams vs. 49ers: LA weathers epic San Francisco comeback, earns wild win

49ers vs. Rams: Score, live updates for Week 3 Thursday night game

Rams vs. 49ers score, stats


In what most expected to be yet another unexciting, low-scoring "Thursday Night Football" matchup, Rams-49ers was anything but.

In the final three minutes, Brian Hoyer led the Niners (0-3) on a potential game-winning drive. Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald streamrolled an offensive lineman, however, and sacked Hoyer on fourth-and-20 to preserve a 41-39 win for LA.

The Rams (2-1) looked to be comfortably ahead 34-20 in the third quarter, before both the Niners' offense and defense burst to life. Hoyer connected with receivers Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin, who made near-impossible catches that kept drives going. The Niners' defense recovered a fumble and the special teams recovered an onside kick to keep San Francisco in the game.

Hoyer finished with 332 yards passing and two touchdowns, while Carlos Hyde added two more touchdowns, one of them a 1-yard run on fourth down in the fourth quarter.

While the Niners stole the show late in their tight loss, the Rams appeared more dominant throughout. LA quarterback Jared Goff connected with Sammy Watkins on two of his three touchdowns and threw for 292 yards. Todd Gurley finished the first half with a "hat trick": three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving).

San Francisco's offense showed plenty of improvement, even after Hoyer threw a near pick-six on the first play from scrimmage. The Niners scored 12 points combined in their first two games.

MORE: Week 3 NFL schedule

Look back on what you missed with SN's live blog.


49ers vs. Rams: Score, live updates


(All times ET)

11:51 p.m. — FINAL: Rams 41, 49ers 39.



11:45 p.m. — It's over. Hoyer sacked on fourth-and-20. The Rams will be able to run out the clock now.

11:43 p.m. — Lot of grit on display tonight.



11:42 p.m. — THEN, the Niners recover an onside kick and are driving AGAIN to win the game!

11:41 p.m. — The Niners can't convert the two-point conversion. Rams lead 41-39.

11:39 p.m. — Touchdown, 49ers.



11:37 p.m. — Fourth-and-goal. This is for the game.

11:34 p.m. — The call is overturned. Marquise Goodwin's catch is good and the Niners have it at the 3-yard line.



11:31 p.m. — Tavon Austin injured.



11:29 p.m. — The 49ers recover a fumble and they have the ball at the Rams' 25, down eight with five minutes left.

11:27 p.m. — Here's Pierre Garcon doing Pierre Garcon things. This catch led to a Niners TD.



11:26 p.m. — Touchdown, 49ers. Taylor makes the catch. Let's see if the Niners can mount a comeback. The score is 41-33.

11:15 p.m. — Here's Watkins scoring the TD.



11:12 p.m. — Touchdown, Rams. Sammy Watkins hauls it in. It is 41-26.



11:11 p.m. — It's 11:11; make a wish. The 49ers wish they could stop Todd Gurley.



11:08 p.m. — Todd Gurley makes a catch, then breaks a tackle and dashes for 29 yards.

11:04 p.m. — This is Hoyer's throw to Celek to make this a one-score game.



11:03 p.m. — The Rams' defense made a nice goal-line stand earlier, but it was for naught when Hyde scored on fourth down. Then Hoyer slices through it like butter on the next drive. A bit of an up-and-down night for the LA defense.

11:00 p.m. — Touchdown, 49ers. Hoyer finds Garrett Celek for the 1-yard TD. The extra-point kick fails. It's 34-26 Rams.



10:57 p.m. — Taylor catches a pass that brings the Niners to the doorstep.

10:55 p.m. — To the fourth quarter we go.



10:53 p.m. — The 49ers strike back. Hoyer hits Marquise Goodwin for a 50-yard gain.



10:47 p.m. — Touchdown, Rams. Jared Goff hits Watkins on the quick slant for the 1-yard touchdown. Extra point good, Rams lead 34-20.



10:46 p.m. — Austin's run was ruled not a touchdown. Rams trying to score at the 1

10:44 p.m. — Tavon Austin took the handoff for the touchdown. Er, it was called a touchdown. The play is under review to determine whether he was down before crossing the goal line.

10:41 p.m. — Crowd is a little thin at Levi's Stadium.



10:35 p.m. — Jared Goff is dealing. He just completed a pass to Gurley and then another one to Sammy Watkins for a first down.



10:30 p.m. — The Rams' defense took care of business until fourth-and-goal. The Niners went for it, and Hyde scored the touchdown. It's 27-20.



10:28 p.m. — First-and-goal, Niners.



10:26 p.m. — Gurley is making headlines tonight, but Goff has a solid stat line as well.



10:24 p.m. — The Niners win the challenge, and the catch takes them to the Rams' 21.

10:22 p.m. — The Niners are challenging whether Garcon made the catch inbounds.

10:21 p.m. — Field goal, Rams. Greg Zeurlein's kick is good and it's Rams 27, Niners 13.



10:16 p.m. — Gurley is stonewalled on two runs. Looks like the Rams will have to settle for a field goal.

10:14 p.m. — Here's the excellent grab by Watkins for the big gain.



10:11 p.m. — What a catch by Sammy Watkins! Excellent throw from Goff, too. Rams at the Niners' 14.

10:08 p.m. — The Rams have received the kick to start the second half.

10:07 p.m. — If you're facing Gurley this week in fantasy, you're probably taking an L.



9:55 p.m. — Saints running back Mark Ingram with some love for Gurley.



9:54 p.m. — HALFTIME. Rams 24, 49ers 13. Todd Gurley leads the way for the Rams with three touchdowns, two rushing and one receiving.



9:49 p.m. — Touchdown, Rams. Todd Gurley again, his third on the night. Rams lead, 24-13.



9:47 p.m. — Goff completes a pass to the 2-yard line. Rams trying to get more points before half. A penalty takes it to the 1-yard line.

9:41 p.m. — Two-minute warning. Rams driving into Niners territory. Sammy Watkins has a couple nice grabs this drive.

9:35 p.m. — Field goal good by Robbie Gould, from 48 yards. It's 17-13 Rams.



9:32 p.m. — Niners fullback Kyle Juszczyk caught this dime from Hoyer to get into Rams territory.



9:25 p.m. — Rams go three and out.

9:20 p.m. — 49ers settle for a field goal, Robbie Gould's kick is good. Rams lead 17-10.



9:18 p.m. — The Niners are called for a false start and holding on this drive. Not capitalizing on the good field position after the muffed return.



9:16 p.m. — Niners punt . . . and it's bobbled by Tavon Austin on the return. The Niners recover the muff at the Rams' 13.

9:13 p.m. — Carlos Hyde has returned.



9:07 p.m. — The Rams stretch the lead to 17-7 with a field goal.



9:04 p.m. — End of the first quarter. Unlike most Thursday night games, this one has been eventful and fun. It's 14-7 Rams.

9:03 p.m. — Even without the two TDs, here's the best player on the field so far.



9:00 p.m. — Goff completes a pass to Sammy Watkins into Niners territory. Rams lead, 14-7.

8:56 p.m. — Fumble recovered by the Rams. The turnover ends a promising drive for the Niners.



8:52 p.m. — Props to you if you drafted Todd Gurley for your fantasy team.



8:49 p.m. — Touchdown, Rams. Todd Gurley hauls in a reception for his second TD of the night.

8:46 p.m. — Brian Hoyer makes up for an interception on his first pass of the game with this rushing touchdown. A well-put-together drive preceeded it.



8:46 p.m. — The Niners get a sack, but it's called back for holding. First down, Rams.

8:40 p.m. — Looks like Carlos Hyde might be injured.



8:39 p.m. — Touchdown, 49ers. We're all tied. A passing play breaks down, and Brian Hoyer rushes for the touchdown.

8:38 p.m. — Niners are driving now after the early gaffe. Second-and-10 at the Rams' 15.

8:31 p.m. — Here's Gurley's TD.



8:29 p.m. — Twelve seconds gone, and Todd Gurley makes it 7-0 Rams with a 3-yard touchdown run.



8:27 p.m. — The first play from scrimmage, and Brian Hoyer's pass is INTERCEPTED! The Rams have the ball inside the Niners' 5.

8:19 p.m. — Minutes from kickoff in Santa Clara.



7:50 p.m. — Solomon Thomas — the 49ers rookie out of Stanford — warming up.



7:00 p.m. — Inactives for tonight's game: