The 3 Key Plays that Lead to the Rams Upset

The San Francisco 49ers entered as the underdog by 8.5 points, yet they still managed to turn the game around against the Rams and ended up with a big win that required a genuine team effort. There are three key plays that had a dramatic impact on the 49ers’ victory.

The first stop is the game-changing strip and fumble recovery by Alfred Collins. It was first down with the Rams poised to score, and Collin, the second-round pick out of Texas, showcased his considerable stage experience and awareness. The massive punch out prevented the Rams from taking the lead late in the game and potentially draining the rest of the clock. A game-saving play by the rookie who was brought in to stuff the run.

Special teams seems to have been overlooked by several teams all year, losing multiple games from blocked field goals. Tied 20-20, defensive tackle Jordan Elliott blocked the Rams point extra attempt early in the 4th quarter to keep the game tied. Not only did this disrupt the significant momentum the Rams had gained, but it would later force the Rams to try to score on the goal line, leading to the fumble and overtime. Otherwise, the Rams could have kneed out the clock and taken a last-second chip shot field goal to win.

Finally, we have the fourth and one play that could win the game, or give the Rams a new set of downs. A defining moment in the game and Marques Sigle sniffed out the play early and charged in with determination and intent, his aggressive pursuit, combined with his teammates was exactly what 49ers needed in that critical moment