Stafford throws 3 TDs, Williams rushes for 149 as Rams beat 49ers

Santa Clara, CA - Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes without an interception, Kyren Williams rushed for a game-high 149 yards, and the Los Angeles Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers 28-16 in Week 14.

Stafford completed 19 of 25 passes for 252 yards and finished with a 146.9 passer rating. Williams added a touchdown on the ground while averaging more than seven yards across his 21 carries. Together, their production highlighted a balanced Los Angeles offense that finished with 402 offensive yards, including 157 rushing yards.

"The biggest thing was staying efficient and protecting the ball," Stafford said. "We had balance, and different guys finished opportunities for us. That's the kind of offensive performance we want."

The Rams were especially sharp through the air. Stafford's longest completion covered 35 yards, and Los Angeles spread its three receiving touchdowns among Puka Nacua, Terrance Ferguson and Davante Adams. Nacua caught five passes for 51 yards, Ferguson turned his only reception into a 35-yard touchdown, and Adams finished with four catches for 34 yards and a score.

Williams supplied the largest individual yardage total of the game. His 149 yards came on 21 attempts and included a game-long 34-yard run. San Francisco also gave Christian McCaffrey 21 carries, but Williams finished with 72 more rushing yards than the 49ers star.

"Getting 21 carries lets you stay involved," Williams said. "I wanted to be decisive and give the offense consistent production. Finishing with a win is what matters."

Los Angeles recorded 245 net passing yards and converted five of eight third downs. The Rams also reached the red zone five times, coming away with three touchdowns. Their 402 offensive yards were 86 more than San Francisco's total of 316.

The contrast at quarterback was equally pronounced. Brock Purdy completed 24 of 36 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, but he was intercepted twice and finished with a 76.9 passer rating. Nate Landman and Jaylen Watson recorded the interceptions for Los Angeles, with Watson returning his pick 15 yards. The Rams also registered three sacks.

"I have to be better with the ball," Purdy said. "Two interceptions put too much pressure on everything else we're trying to do. We moved it in stretches, but the result is the result."

San Francisco did produce several favorable offensive numbers despite the loss. The 49ers recorded 24 first downs compared with 20 for the Rams and converted eight of 13 third downs. They also went 1-for-2 on fourth down and scored two touchdowns across four red-zone trips.

McCaffrey rushed for 77 yards, while Purdy contributed another 33 yards on three attempts. Ricky Pearsall posted the game's highest receiving total with 67 yards on five catches. George Kittle and Kyle Juszczyk caught Purdy's two touchdown passes, but San Francisco finished with 187 net passing yards and 129 rushing yards.

The Rams' statistical advantages were concentrated in some of the game's most prominent categories: offensive yards, rushing production, quarterback efficiency and interceptions. San Francisco moved the chains more often, but Los Angeles finished with the higher yardage total and the 12-point victory.

For the Rams, the result followed a 7-5 start and extended their winning run to two games. The 49ers entered at 5-7 on a two-game skid and left Santa Clara with another loss.

Up Next

Los Angeles will return home in Week 15 to host the Dallas Cowboys, while San Francisco will travel to face the Los Angeles Chargers and look to rebound from the loss.