In his second game in his new uniform, Christian McCaffrey demonstrated the full extent of his devastating potential by hitting a touchdown pass, a rushing touchdown, and a reception for a touchdown in a convincing 31-14 win over the 49ers. San Francisco at the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon.
McCaffrey was at the center of the Niners offense all afternoon against a defense that looked unrecognizable after winning the Super Bowl last February.
The new San Francisco star, acquired from Carolina two weeks ago, carried the ball 18 times for 94 yards and a touchdown, in addition to catching eight passes for 55 yards and another touchdown.
McCaffrey’s most memorable play of the game remains a perfectly laid down 34-yard touchdown pass off the hands of Brandon Aiyuk for a spectacular touchdown.
“My two little brothers are quarterbacks, so I learned a lot from them,” McCaffrey said with a smile. “I used to always want to play quarterback just because it was the best position. It also helps when someone stands out perfectly. »
“CMC” became the first player in NFL history to rush for more than 90 yards, more than 50 receiving yards and 30 passing yards, while scoring touchdowns in all three phases of play in a same game.
LaDainian Tomlinson, in 2005, was the last player to score rushing, passing and receiving touchdowns in the same game. Only four players have done it since 1970 and 11 players in NFL history.
“It’s awesome,” McCaffrey said of his historic achievement. These things are obviously very cool. I think the biggest thing is to come out with a win, and to play the second half like that, too. I think what I’m most happy about is that the whole team welcomes me with open arms. »
“He’s playing our style, and he’s only going to get better,” Nick Bosa said of McCaffrey.
If McCaffrey was brilliant, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was beyond reproach, completing 21 of 25 passing attempts for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
The Rams actually got burned by McCaffrey for the second game in a row, as he racked up 158 yards for the Panthers in the Rams’ win over Carolina in Los Angeles’ final game before its bye week.
After trailing 14-10 at halftime despite McCaffrey’s 34-yard pass, the 49ers regained the lead late in the third quarter on an 88-yard push that culminated in a nifty catch from McCaffrey along from the sideline. McCaffrey then made a 24-yard run followed by a one-yard score with 12:07 remaining.
George Kittle had a late-game reception for the touchdown to seal the Niners’ win over the Rams despite Deebo Samuel missing through injury.
Los Angeles narrowly beat San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium exactly nine months ago, but the Niners have won every other meeting since 2018.
Matthew Stafford passed for 187 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown since 2016 for the Rams (3-4), defending Super Bowl champions, who are playing below .500 for the third time this season .
Head coach Sean McVay has lost nine of 13 meetings with Kyle Shanahan, his former colleague in Washington, since they got their current job a month apart in 2017.
Cooper Kupp caught eight passes for 79 yards and a touchdown, but the all-star player left the game with just over a minute to play.
Oh no! Cooper Kupp remains on the ground