SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 throws his wristband to fans as he walks off the field after their 24-9 NFL victory over the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Photos: San Francisco 49ers beat rival Los Angeles Rams 24-9
SANTA CLARA — Deebo Samuel’s first-half touchdown revived the 49ers’ season. Talanoa Hufanga’s second-half touchdown saved the 49ers’ Monday night win.
Deebo Samuel’s 57-yard, catch-and-run score gave the 49ers a 14-6 cushion just before halftime; however, this 49ers’ season had already seen second-half leads evaporate in losses at Chicago and Denver.
Talanoa Hufanga made sure that the first half lead was safe. His 52-yard interception return for a win-clinching score had the 49ers (2-2) celebrating what would be their seventh straight regular-season win over the Rams, who, in their defense, did win last season’s NFC Championship Game matchup in their house en route to a Super Bowl triumph.
“It was a cool way to win,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We knew it would be a battle. To keep them out of the end zone was great.”
The 49ers next head on a 10-day road trip, including a third annual layover in West Virginia between games at Charlotte and Atlanta. All four teams in the NFC West are 2-2, but the 49ers are the only ones who stand 2-0 in divisional play. That sure is a change of scenery after flopping on prime time last Sunday in an 11-10 loss at Denver.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers’ Talanoa Hufanga (29) scores a touchdown after intercepting the ball against the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: A protester with a smoke bomb is tackled on the field by Los Angeles Rams’ Bobby Wagner, #45 Takkarist McKinley #50 and a security guard during their NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa (97) sacks Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers fans cheer as the team warms up before their NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver Deebo Samuel #19 runs for a touchdown as he’s pressured by Los Angeles Rams’ Jalen Ramsey #5 in the second quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is seen on the sideline in the fourth quarter of their NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa (97) sacks Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers fans celebrate their 24-9 NFL victory over the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers’ Charlie Woerner (89) can’t make a catch against Los Angeles Rams’ Terrell Lewis (52) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers’ Talanoa Hufanga #29 celebrates after the 49ers recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter of their NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) is tackled after throwing by Los Angeles Rams’ Aaron Donald (99) in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers fans cheer for their team during the 49ers game against the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers’ Fred Warner (54) tackles against Los Angeles Rams’ Darrell Henderson Jr. (27) in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan talks to an official during their game against the Los Angeles Rams in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers’ Deebo Samuel #19 runs for a touchdown in the second quarter of their NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers’ Hassan Ridgeway (98) celebrates his sack on Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers’ Samson Ebukam #56 strips away the ball from Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in the fourth quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: A protester runs on the field during the Los Angeles Rams game against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 passes in the first quarter of their NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers’ Hassan Ridgeway (98) celebrates his sack on Los Angeles Rams starting quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) in the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers’ Dre Greenlaw #57 tackles Los Angeles Rams’ Tyler Higbee #89 in the fourth quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel #19 celebrates a catch in the first quarter of their NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers’ Dre Greenlaw (57) tackles Los Angeles Rams’ Tyler Higbee (89) in the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers fans cheer as San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) leaves the field before the 49ers games against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers’ running back Jeff Wilson Jr. #22 runs for a 32-yard touchdown in the first quarter of their NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 3: San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) signs autographs before the 49ers games against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 runs on a keeper in the second quarter of their NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 03: San Francisco 49ers’ Talanoa Hufanga #29 celebrates with fans after running for a 52-yard touchdown after an interception in the fourth quarter of their NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Monday, Oct. 3, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
