Christian McCaffrey helps 49ers slide past Rams

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Field Level Media
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Sep 17, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) hurdles into the end zone for a touchdown at San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (99) looks on in the first half at SoFi Stadium.
Sep 17, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) hurdles into the end zone for a touchdown at San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (99) looks on in the first half at SoFi Stadium.
Image: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Christian McCaffrey rushed for 116 yards on 20 carries and scored a touchdown to lead the San Francisco 49ers to a 30-23 win against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon at Inglewood, Calif.

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy completed 17 of 25 passes for 206 yards for the 49ers (2-0). He had no interceptions for the second consecutive game.

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The San Francisco defense kept the Rams (1-1) out of the end zone and forced two turnovers in the second half.

Rams rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua set a team rookie record by catching 15 passes for 147 yards. He also set an NFL record with 25 receptions through his first two games.

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Rams quarterback Matt Stafford completed 34 of 55 passes for 307 yards with a touchdown and two second-half interceptions.

With the score tied at 17-17, a tipped pass landed in the hands of San Francisco cornerback Isaiah Oliver for Stafford's first interception in his past 164 attempts.

The 49ers converted the turnover into a 57-yard field goal by Jake Moody for a 20-17 lead with 1:21 left in the third quarter.

Purdy's 31-yard strike down the sideline to Jauan Jennings led to an 11-yard touchdown run by Deebo Samuel that stretched the lead to 27-17 with 11:28 left in the game.

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The Rams scored their first points of the second half on a 48-yard field goal by Brett Maher with 7:13 remaining to cut the lead to 27-20.

The Rams got the ball back with 5:29 left, but Stafford was intercepted by Deommodore Lenoir and he returned the ball to the Rams 15 with 4:48 remaining, setting up a 26-yard field goal by Jake Moody for a 30-20 lead with 2:59 left.

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Maher kicked a 38-yard field goal as time expired for the 30-23 finale and the 12th straight regular season win by the 49ers over the Rams.

McCaffrey scored on a 14-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the game for a 7-0 lead.

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The Rams answered with a 43-yard field goal by Maher to make it 7-3 with 1:54 left in the opening quarter.

McCaffrey's 51-yard run down the sideline set up a 27-yard field goal from Moody to extend the lead to 10-3 with 13:32 left in the first half.

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The Rams evened the score at 10 on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to running back Kyren Williams with 9:49 left in the half.

Williams scored again on a 4-yard run with 1:45 to go in the half to give Los Angeles its first lead at 17-10.

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Purdy dove across the goal line on a 1-yard run on the final play of the half to tie the score 17-17.

—Field Level Media