Live In-Game Updates: Los Angeles Rams Lose 30-23 vs. San Francisco 49ers

The Los Angeles Rams will look to upset the rival San Francisco 49ers in their Week 2 home opener, without the services of receiver Cooper Kupp.

The Los Angeles Rams (1-0) will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season in their home opener against the San Francisco 49ers (1-0).

Matchups between Rams head coach Sean McVay and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan always carry a little extra weight, whether it be for bragging rights between the titans of play calling or a meaningful impact on the NFC West standings.

Los Angeles showed in their Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks that quarterback Matthew Stafford, when healthy, can still take over games. The Rams were able to mitigate receiver Cooper Kupp’s absence, putting up 30 points on the road. Rookie receiver Puka Nacua stole the show and will likely be a focal point in the Week 2 matchup.

Going on the road and beating a divisional rival is never easy, but Sunday’s contest presents an even greater challenge. The 49ers dismantled the Pittsburgh Steelers, 30-7, in Week 1. Hopes of quarterback Brock Purdy regressing to the Rams’ liking have dissipated. San Francisco is a well-oiled machine with arguably the best roster in football.

Can Los Angeles pull off yet another upset?

WHAT: Los Angeles Rams (1-0) vs San Francisco 49ers (1-0)

WHERE: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA (70,240)

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, 4:05 p.m. (PT)

TELEVISION: FOX

RADIO: ESPNLA 710 AM, Ty Liga Radio 1330 AM

ODDS: Rams +7.5 (-118), +265 Moneyline, Total: 45.5 (o -110/u -110)

Live updates will appear below after kickoff.

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FIRST QUARTER

49ers First Drive: San Francisco received the opening kickoff and opted for a touchback. 

Running back Christian McCaffrey started the festivities with a seven-yard rush. Shanahan made sure to get Purdy in rhythm early, who hit tight end George Kittle and McCaffrey on his first two attempts.

They marched quickly into Rams' territory by steadily moving the chains. With 9:33 remaining in the first quarter, the 49ers took their first timeout.

On a third-and-7 after the timeout, Purdy completed a tight-window throw to receiver Brandon Aiyuk for 13 yards. However, Aiyuk went down after the play.

Two plays later, McCaffrey dazzled on a 14-yard rush to score the game's first touchdown.

49ers lead 7-0 with 8:25 remaining in the first quarter.

Rams First Drive: Receiver Puka Nacua made sure to get into the box score early, securing a six-yard catch after a Stafford scramble. 

Another receiver who showed out in Week 1, Tutu Atwell, also made an appearance on the first drive, hauling in passes for 11 and 15 yards.

After getting down to the 49ers' 33-yard line, Los Angeles called its first timeout with 4:37 left in the opening quarter.

A holding penalty would put the Rams behind the sticks. On first-and-20, running back Kyren Williams dropped a pass. A Stafford scramble would make third down a little less daunting, but a Nacua screen pass would fail to move the chains.

Kicker Brett Maher hit a 43-yard field goal on fourth-and-8.

49ers lead 7-3 with 1:54 remaining in the first quarter.

49ers Second Drive: McCaffrey broke off an explosive 50-yard run to end the quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

San Francisco opened the quarter with a couple of McCaffrey rushes for four yards.

On third-and-6, Aiyuk returned from the medical tent and was targeted on a three-yard pass, but it was overturned via a Los Angeles challenge.

Kicker Jake Moody hit a field goal to extend the lead.

49ers lead 10-3 with 13:32 remaining in the second quarter.

Rams Second Drive: The Rams offense is once again looking viable without Kupp.

On third-and-4 from their own 46, Stafford hit Nacua on a quick strike for 20 yards. The next play, Williams took a checkdown for 10 yards after breaking a tackle.

Nacua, after another reception and a fruitless rush, drew an unnecessary roughness call from linebacker Dre Greenlaw. Williams caught a six-yard screen pass on the ensuing play to tie the game.

Rams tie the game, 10-10, with 9:49 remaining in the second quarter.

49ers Third Drive: Purdy and the 49ers looked to respond quickly, targeting Kittle for 12 yards and rushing with receiver Deebo Samuel for another 16.

After a one-yard rush and an incomplete deep ball to Aiyuk, Purdy took a sack while trying to scramble for the first down. San Francisco was forced to punt.

Rams Third Drive: Williams is proving McVay's decision to sit Akers correct. He started the drive with a five-yard rush.

Atwell continued to make an impact deep into the first half. He caught an 11-yard Stafford pass, rushed for five yards, drew a penalty, and then hauled in another 18-yard catch.

Nacua moved the chains after an incompletion to tight end Tyler Higbee. At the San Francisco 23-yard line, the Rams called their second timeout. There is 3:01 remaining in the first half.

In the two plays before the two-minute warning, Williams rushed twice for 10 total yards.

Los Angeles came out of the break giving Williams another two attempts, getting them down to the 4-yard line. On the next play, he found his way into the end zone.

The Rams lead 17-10 with 1:45 remaining in the first half. 

49ers Fourth Drive: San Francisco's attempt to tie the game started at their own 25-yard line.

A 22-yard Samuel reception preceded a nine-yard McCaffrey grab. Later in the drive, a defensive pass interference on cornerback Derion Kendrick put the 49ers at the Rams' 1-yard line.

A facemask on Los Angeles would mitigate an incompletion, though Purdy would miss his next pass, too. A quarterback sneak from Purdy tied the game as the second quarter expired.

The Rams are tied 17-17 at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

Rams Fourth Drive: Los Angeles received the second-half kickoff. Nacua saw the first two plays of the drive, gaining 11 yards.

Stafford has had to move the pocket a bunch this game, but he's handled the pressure well. On second-and-7 he scrambled for two yards. A Williams three-yard reception was enough to move the chains. After a delay of game, they punted on fourth down.

49ers Fifth Drive: The Rams' defense opened up the second half well, quickly forcing a three-and-out. They'll take over at the Los Angeles 28-yard line.

Rams Fifth Drive: There goes that man again. Atwell took the Rams' first pass of the drive for five yards and the second for 15.

A strike to Nacua would bring them into 49ers' territory. McVay has continued to put his targets in positions to win, and Stafford has been consistently on-point.

A holding penalty from tight end Brycen Hopkins would make it first-and-20 from the San Francisco 35.

Williams' big game has been interrupted by a dropped pass. The tip drill resulted in an Isaiah Oliver interception. The 49ers will take over at their own 28-yard line.

The 49ers take over possession, tied 17-17 with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter.

49ers Sixth Drive: Purdy looked to the quick game often on this drive.

He hit Aiyuk and Kittle on back-to-back passes. However, on third-and-7 from the Rams' 39-yard line, he overthrew a deep pass to Samuel.

Moody's field goal would give San Francisco the lead.

The 49ers lead 20-17 with 1:21 remaining in the third quarter.

Rams Sixth Drive: Is the 49ers' talent starting to win out?

Stafford's first two passes of the drive were incomplete. On third-and-10, Stafford was sacked for a 10-yard loss. The Rams were forced to punt.

FOURTH QUARTER

49ers Seventh Drive: A Samuel diving grab helped push the 49ers towards midfield. On the next play, receiver Jauan Jennings hauled in a 31-yard pass. 

They would go back to McCaffrey for a short run and returned to Samuel soon after. On third-and-1, Purdy pushed up the middle for four yards and a new set of downs.

One play later, Purdy would hit Samuel for an 11-yard screen catch and a score.

The 49ers extend their lead to 27-17 with 11:28 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Rams Seventh Drive: Trying to respond with limited time remaining, Stafford took to the air.

He hit Nacua twice for 20 yards, and after a third-down incompletion, hauled in a huge catch on fourth down.

Williams, like Nacua, is racking up touches. He's up to five receptions on the day.

A miscommunication led to an infuriating intentional grounding from Stafford, making it second-and-22. A quick pressure from linebacker Fred Warner would make it third-and-forever. 

Brett Maher hit a 48-yard field goal to cut the lead to one possession.

The Rams' field goal cuts the 49ers' lead to 27-20 with 7:13 remaining.

49ers Eighth Drive: Shanahan continued to prioritize Samuel into the fourth quarter, likely due to his incredible ability as a ball carrier.

Samuel caught a screen pass on first down, rushed for no gain on second down, and was targeted on third down to no fruition.

The 49ers elected to punt with 5:38 remaining.

Rams Eighth Drive: After a five-yard rush from Williams, Stafford's second-down pass was tipped.

On third down, Stafford was intercepted by cornerback Deommodore Lenoir. Frankly, it was a really bad route from receiver Van Jefferson.

The turnover sets San Francisco up in Rams' territory.

49ers Ninth Drive: McCaffrey rushed twice to start the drive for six yards and change. 

On third-and-3, San Francisco elected to take a timeout. The Rams would bring the house and force an incompletion. 

A Moody field goal put the 49ers up 10.

The 49ers lead 30-20 with 3:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Rams Ninth Drive: A Higbee target went awry to start a must-score drive for Los Angeles. 

On fourth-and-1, the Rams opted to hand Williams the ball, but it was blown up. San Francisco will take over possession. 

49ers Tenth Drive: As expected, the 49ers opted to run the ball. A holding call would set them back, but at the two-minute warning, it is third-and-12. 

They went to Samuel again on a jet sweep, but a Jennings penalty would render it a third-and-25. The Rams will get the ball down 10 with less than two minutes remaining. 

Rams Tenth Drive: Stafford hit Nacua again for his first completion of the drive.

After a scramble and a pass to Jefferson, the Rams are into San Francisco territory.

They called their final timeout with 0:49 remaining. A couple more completions will simply soften the blow of the Week 2 loss. Maher made a field goal on the game's final play.

FINAL: The 49ers beat the Rams, 30-23.