Nacua Makes History, Wentz Shines as Rams Top Niners in Regular Season Finale
The Los Angeles Rams didn't have much to lose on Sunday (just an adjustment in flight destination), but they came away with a win regardless.
The Rams (10-7), with a playoff berth in-hand, elected to rest a majority of their starters in Week 18 against the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers (12-5), but they came away with a 21-20 win in Santa Clara on Sunday, snapping a nine-game regular season losing streak against the Niners in the process.
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L.A. and San Fran were locked at seven after the first quarter of play, but a 13-spot by the Niners in the second frame made the deficit 20-7 at the intermission.
It appeared that the 49ers were going to be able to hold on for a win in the second half, but a late rushing score by Rams quarterback Carson Wentz and an ensuing two-point conversion gave Los Angeles a one-point lead in the fourth quarter, an advantage that lasted through the finish line.
Wentz drew the start at quarterback for the idle Matthew Stafford, and he finished the day at 17-of-24 through the air for 163 yards and two touchdowns. First-year wideout Puka Nacua was an exception to the resting rule on Sunday, playing into the second half in order to obtain the league's rookie records for receiving yards and catches in a single season, a mark he reached in the third quarter.
The win will set the Rams up for a road trip to open the NFC postseason next week, sending them to face Stafford's former team in the Detroit Lions.
