The Rams come up short and lose to the 49ers in overtime 26-23

The Los Angeles Rams #9 Matthew Stafford (QB) is looking downfield for a open receiver against the San Francisco 49ers’ defense at SoFi Stadium. Photo by Mark Hammond/News 4Us Online October 2, 2025.

INGLEWOOD, CA - The Los Angeles Rams (3-2), with costly turnovers and a bad coach's decision in overtime, lost to the San Francisco 49ers (4-1) at SoFi Stadium 26-23, with first place in the NFC West on the line.

Matthew Stafford had a great game and did what he does best: put them in position for a comeback win, but came up short after completing 30 of his 47 passes for 389 yards, three touchdowns, and one fumble.

Kyren Williams had a solid day catching the football with 8 receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns, but a costly fumble late in the fourth quarter, after 14 carries for 65 yards.

Puka Nacua led the Rams in receptions with 10 catches for 85 yards, and Davante Adams had 5 catches for 88 yards. Every coach in the NFL will have to live with a bad decision in a game they wish they could take back, including the Rams head coach Sean McVay.

“I’m pretty sick right now,” McVay said. “I’m sick of the spot that I put our group in to end the game, but these are the tough beats that you’ve got to be able to learn from and move forward.”

Los Angeles Rams #12 Puka Nacua (WR) is going up for the football against a San Francisco 49ers’ defender at SoFi Stadium. Photo by Mark Hammond

/News 4Us Online October 2, 2025.

Mac Jones would start for Brock Purdy (injured), and the 49ers’ offense scored first to lead 7-0 after going 72 yards on eight plays, capped off with a 6-yard touchdown pass from  Jones (QB) to Jake Tonges (TE).

Matthew Stafford was sacked for an 11-yard loss by Bryce Huff (LDE) at their 33-yard line on 2nd and 10, and couldn’t convert on 3rd and 21, so they had to punt.

The Rams trailed 14-0 in the second quarter after Christian McCaffery's 1-yard touchdown pass from Jones (QB).

Los Angeles was threatening to score when Stafford pitched the ball to Blake Corum, and fumbled the football at the 49ers’31’ 31-yard line and recovered by San Francisco’s  Trevis Gipson (DL).

The Rams would score and trail 14-7 with 2:09 left before halftime when Kyren Williams was left open and caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Stafford after going 85 yards on eight plays. The 49ers led at halftime by ten points, 17-7, with a 37-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro.

Los Angeles, with 3:45 left in the third quarter, would drive 69 yards on seven plays, and Stafford threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Puka Nucua to trail 20-14.

Williams would tie the game 20-20 in the fourth quarter with an 8-yard touchdown reception, with the offense going 88 yards on nine plays. San Francisco would regain the lead 23-20 with a 59-yard field goal by Eddie Pineiro.

The Rams' defense would do its job by getting the football back to Stafford and their offense to give themselves a chance to come from behind for the win, but the unthinkable happened.

After an Illegal use of the hands against the 49ers’ defense, the Rams’ offense moved to their 7-yard line, Williams ran to the 2-yard line, fumbled the football, and it was recovered by San Francisco’s Alfred Collins at the 1-yard line.

Los Angeles would force the 49ers to go 3 and out, and had to punt the football from their end zone. With 2 seconds left in the game, Karty would send the game into overtime 23-23 after kicking a 48-yard field goal.