Travin Howard made a game-sealing interception with 1:09 to play, and the Los Angeles Rams rallied from a 10-point deficit within the fourth quarter with a slender 20-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. The Rams’ win within the NFC championship sport secured the staff a spot within the Tremendous Bowl at their dwelling stadium subsequent month.
Cooper Kupp caught two landing passes from Matthew Stafford for the star-studded Rams, who started the fourth quarter down 17-7 after losing a mess of scoring alternatives. However after Kupp’s second TD catch and a tying area purpose on a drive prolonged by Jaquiski Tartt’s brutal dropped interception, the Rams drove for Matt Homosexual’s go-ahead, 30-yard area purpose with 1:46 to play.
Jaquiski Tartt drops a dime from Matthew Stafford
— PFF (@PFF) January 31, 2022
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Los Angeles’ protection then received it when Aaron Donald received maintain of Jimmy Garoppolo and compelled him to fling a move towards JaMycal Hasty. The ball caromed excessive within the air off Hasty’s arms and got here straight right down to Howard, who didn’t miss it.
“I’ve received whole belief and confidence in that protection, man,” stated Stafford, who handed for 337 yards within the third playoff victory of his 13-year profession. “They’ve been unbelievable all 12 months. Technique to freakin’ ice the sport. I beloved it.”
Los Angeles will welcome the Cincinnati Bengals in two weeks for Tremendous Bowl 56 in Rams proprietor Stan Kroenke’s multibillion-dollar SoFi Stadium. After 54 consecutive Tremendous Bowls with out an NFL staff enjoying in its dwelling stadium, the Rams are the second staff to do it in two seasons after Tampa Bay broke the streak final 12 months.
“You possibly can’t write the story any higher,” Stafford stated. “I’m confused. I’m simply having a blast enjoying ball with these guys and, shoot, we’ve received another on the dwelling stadium. Let’s get it carried out.”
The Rams received their second convention title previously 4 years below coach Sean McVay and moved one step from the franchise’s second championship within the Tremendous Bowl period. Maybe much more impressively, Los Angeles lastly snapped a six-game dropping streak towards their archrivals, who secured their playoff berth with an extra time comeback victory in Inglewood simply three weeks in the past.
Deebo Samuel and George Kittle caught landing passes from Garoppolo, who handed for 232 yards in a heartbreaker for the 49ers (12-8). Coach Kyle Shanahan punted twice from the Rams’ half of the sector and a 3rd time from the 50, and that warning probably ended up costing San Francisco.
San Francisco additionally will lament their late-game execution, however no mistake was larger than the dropped interception by Tartt, who might have put the Rams in dire straits moments after McVay wasted his remaining timeout on a failed problem with 10:01 left.
In entrance of a crowd full of followers of each California golf equipment, San Francisco held a 10-7 halftime lead after a litany of missed alternatives by Los Angeles.
The Rams received to the San Francisco three-yard line on their second drive, however Okay’Waun Williams alertly tipped an finish zone move to Jimmie Ward for an extended interception return. The choose was Stafford’s first of the playoffs, however his fifth in three video games towards the Niners.
Los Angeles shook it off, received a defensive cease and made an 18-play, 97-yard drive consuming almost 10 minutes. Kupp capped it along with his 16-yard TD catch at the back of the tip zone.
However the Niners answered with yet one more second of brilliance of Samuel, who caught an inside display screen move and rampaged by the Los Angeles protection. The All-Professional dived to the pylon for his first profession postseason scoring catch.
The Rams’ errors multiplied: Kupp and rookie Ben Skowronek dropped potential scoring passes on LA’s subsequent drive, which ended with a missed 54-yard area purpose by Homosexual.
Samuel shook off a large, clear hit from Rams security Nick Scott on San Francisco’s drive ending in Robbie Gould’s 38-yard area purpose on the halftime gun for a 10-7 lead.
San Francisco’s protection stopped the Rams on downs close to midfield within the third quarter, and Garoppolo hit Kittle for his second TD move moments later. Los Angeles saved it shut with a gritty drive ending in Kupp’s 11-yard TD catch early within the fourth quarter.
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