Game story
In Week 18 of the 2021 NFL season on 2022-01-09, the San Francisco 49ers took care of business against the Los Angeles Rams, pulling away with a 27–24 final that came down to the wire.
The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
M. Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) paced the passing game, with +13.56 total EPA, and -2.0% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, C. Kupp (Los Angeles Rams) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +13.74 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (+34.6% win probability) landed in overtime when San Francisco 49ers changed the game: (7:29) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short right to 15-J.Jennings to LA 24 for 34 yards (32-T.Howard; 11-D.Williams).
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 0 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 3 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 C. Kupp · Los Angeles Rams · Receiving · +13.74 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.96 EPA/play
- 2 M. Stafford · Los Angeles Rams · Passing · +13.56 total EPA · 38 snaps · +0.36 EPA/play
- 3 J. Jennings · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +9.39 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.34 EPA/play
- 4 T. Higbee · Los Angeles Rams · Receiving · +5.90 total EPA · 8 snaps · +0.74 EPA/play
- 5 B. Aiyuk · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +5.41 total EPA · 7 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
- 6 D. Samuel · San Francisco 49ers · Receiving · +4.95 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
- 7 J. Garoppolo · San Francisco 49ers · Passing · +3.39 total EPA · 34 snaps · +0.10 EPA/play
- 8 V. Jefferson · Los Angeles Rams · Receiving · +3.07 total EPA · 3 snaps · +1.02 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
C. Kupp — LA · Receiving
C. Kupp posted the highest total EPA (+13.74) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Los Angeles Rams's efficiency. Across 7 counted snaps, they averaged +1.96 EPA per play.
The signature play (+4.18 EPA) came from Los Angeles Rams: (11:12) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 10-C.Kupp to SF 29 for 46 yards (29-T.Hufanga).
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Los Angeles Rams — T. Higbee (M. Stafford pass)
- Los Angeles Rams — T. Higbee (M. Stafford pass)
- San Francisco 49ers — D. Samuel
- San Francisco 49ers — J. Jennings (D. Samuel pass)
- Los Angeles Rams — C. Kupp (M. Stafford pass)
- San Francisco 49ers — J. Jennings (J. Garoppolo pass)
Field goals
- Los Angeles Rams — M. Gay
- San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould
- San Francisco 49ers — R. Gould
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: Los Angeles Rams won the period 3–0. Los Angeles Rams connected on a field goal from the SF 25 (Q1 51:11) — (6:11) 8-M.Gay 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-6-J.Hekker..
The second quarter: Los Angeles Rams won the period 14–3. Los Angeles Rams found the end zone from the SF 2 (Q2 40:31) — (10:31) 70-J.Noteboom and 65-C.Shelton reported in as eligible. 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 89-T.Higbee for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Rams added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 40:26) — 8-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-6-J.Hekker.; Los Angeles Rams found the end zone from the SF 15 (Q2 36:49) — (6:49) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 89-T.Higbee for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Rams added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q2 36:44) — 8-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-6-J.Hekker.; San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the LA 24 (Q2 30:03) — (:03) 9-R.Gould 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-44-K.Juszczyk..
The third quarter: San Francisco 49ers won the period 14–0. San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the LA 16 (Q3 25:41) — (10:41) (Shotgun) 19-D.Samuel right tackle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the LA 15 (Q3 25:32) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-44-K.Juszczyk.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the LA 24 (Q3 16:53) — (1:53) (Shotgun) 19-D.Samuel pass deep right to 15-J.Jennings for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN [40-V.Miller].; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the LA 15 (Q3 16:46) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-44-K.Juszczyk..
The fourth quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Los Angeles Rams found the end zone from the SF 4 (Q4 2:34) — (2:34) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 10-C.Kupp for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Los Angeles Rams added 1 points from the SF 15 (Q4 2:29) — 8-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-6-J.Hekker.; San Francisco 49ers found the end zone from the LA 14 (Q4 0:31) — (:31) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short middle to 15-J.Jennings for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; San Francisco 49ers added 1 points from the LA 15 (Q4 0:26) — 9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-44-K.Juszczyk..
Overtime: San Francisco 49ers won the period 3–0. San Francisco 49ers connected on a field goal from the LA 6 (OT 2:48) — (2:48) 9-R.Gould 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-44-K.Juszczyk..
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- San Francisco 49ers (OT 7:29) — (7:29) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short right to 15-J.Jennings to LA 24 for 34 yards (32-T.Howard; 11-D.Williams).
- Los Angeles Rams (OT 2:00) — (2:00) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right intended for 3-O.Beckham INTERCEPTED by 20-A.Thomas [98-A.Key] at SF 20. 20-A.Thomas ran ob at SF 20 for no gain.
- San Francisco 49ers (OT 2:48) — (2:48) 9-R.Gould 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-44-K.Juszczyk.
- Los Angeles Rams (Q4 0:21) — (:21) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford sacked at LA 34 for -3 yards (91-A.Armstead).
- San Francisco 49ers (OT 2:57) — (2:57) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short left to 85-G.Kittle to LA 6 for 1 yard (26-T.Burgess).
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Los Angeles Rams (Q1 56:12) — (11:12) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 10-C.Kupp to SF 29 for 46 yards (29-T.Hufanga).
- San Francisco 49ers (Q4 7:55) — (7:55) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass deep middle intended for 85-G.Kittle INTERCEPTED by 5-J.Ramsey [51-T.Reeder] at LA -2. 5-J.Ramsey to LA 8 for 10 yards (85-G.Kittle).
- San Francisco 49ers (Q2 33:51) — (3:51) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass deep middle intended for 17-T.Benjamin INTERCEPTED by 24-T.Rapp at LA 21. 24-T.Rapp to LA 21 for no gain (17-T.Benjamin).
- Los Angeles Rams (Q2 36:49) — (6:49) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 89-T.Higbee for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
Quarterback report card
M.Stafford led all passers in efficiency for Los Angeles Rams, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- M.Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) · 38 dropbacks · 55.3% completion · -2.0% CPOE · +0.36 EPA/play · +13.56 total EPA
- J.Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers) · 34 dropbacks · 67.6% completion · +4.4% CPOE · +0.10 EPA/play · +3.39 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | San Francisco 49ers | Los Angeles Rams |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.045 | +0.028 |
| Offensive success rate | 49.4% | 36.2% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.168 | +0.357 |
| Rush EPA/play | +0.031 | -0.369 |
| Defensive EPA/play | -0.028 | -0.045 |
| Defensive success rate | 63.7% | 50.6% |
By the numbers
Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (San Francisco 49ers +0.04, Los Angeles Rams +0.03) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.
- Los Angeles Rams: 11 drives, +2.23 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
- San Francisco 49ers: 11 drives, +3.92 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- San Francisco 49ers leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
- One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
- C. Kupp (Los Angeles Rams) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- J. Garoppolo (SF) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Los Angeles Rams FG (+3) — Q1 51:11 · SF 25 · Score 0-3
(6:11) 8-M.Gay 43 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-6-J.Hekker. - Los Angeles Rams TD (+6) — Q2 40:31 · SF 2 · Score 0-9
(10:31) 70-J.Noteboom and 65-C.Shelton reported in as eligible. 9-M.Stafford pass short middle to 89-T.Higbee for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Los Angeles Rams XP (+1) — Q2 40:26 · SF 15 · Score 0-10
8-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-6-J.Hekker. - Los Angeles Rams TD (+6) — Q2 36:49 · SF 15 · Score 0-16
(6:49) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short right to 89-T.Higbee for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Los Angeles Rams XP (+1) — Q2 36:44 · SF 15 · Score 0-17
8-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-6-J.Hekker. - San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — Q2 30:03 · LA 24 · Score 3-17
(:03) 9-R.Gould 42 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-44-K.Juszczyk. - San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 25:41 · LA 16 · Score 9-17
(10:41) (Shotgun) 19-D.Samuel right tackle for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 25:32 · LA 15 · Score 10-17
9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-44-K.Juszczyk. - San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q3 16:53 · LA 24 · Score 16-17
(1:53) (Shotgun) 19-D.Samuel pass deep right to 15-J.Jennings for 24 yards, TOUCHDOWN [40-V.Miller]. - San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q3 16:46 · LA 15 · Score 17-17
9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-44-K.Juszczyk. - Los Angeles Rams TD (+6) — Q4 2:34 · SF 4 · Score 17-23
(2:34) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass short left to 10-C.Kupp for 4 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Los Angeles Rams XP (+1) — Q4 2:29 · SF 15 · Score 17-24
8-M.Gay extra point is GOOD, Center-42-M.Orzech, Holder-6-J.Hekker. - San Francisco 49ers TD (+6) — Q4 0:31 · LA 14 · Score 23-24
(:31) (Shotgun) 10-J.Garoppolo pass short middle to 15-J.Jennings for 14 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - San Francisco 49ers XP (+1) — Q4 0:26 · LA 15 · Score 24-24
9-R.Gould extra point is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-44-K.Juszczyk. - San Francisco 49ers FG (+3) — OT 2:48 · LA 6 · Score 27-24
(2:48) 9-R.Gould 24 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-T.Pepper, Holder-44-K.Juszczyk.
Frequently asked questions
Who won San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams?
The San Francisco 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 27-24 in Week 18, 2021 on 2022-01-09.
What was the final score of San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams?
The final score was San Francisco 49ers 27, Los Angeles Rams 24 (SF 27-24 LA) in Week 18, 2021 on 2022-01-09.
What was the score by quarter in San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams?
Q1: San Francisco 49ers 0, Los Angeles Rams 3; Q2: San Francisco 49ers 3, Los Angeles Rams 14; Q3: San Francisco 49ers 14, Los Angeles Rams 0; Q4: San Francisco 49ers 7, Los Angeles Rams 7; Q5: San Francisco 49ers 3, Los Angeles Rams 0; Final: San Francisco 49ers 27, Los Angeles Rams 24.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams?
Los Angeles Rams touchdown — T. Higbee (M. Stafford pass) (Q2 40:31) Los Angeles Rams touchdown — T. Higbee (M. Stafford pass) (Q2 36:49) San Francisco 49ers touchdown — D. Samuel (Q3 25:41) San Francisco 49ers touchdown — J. Jennings (D. Samuel pass) (Q3 16:53) Los Angeles Rams touchdown — C. Kupp (M. Stafford pass) (Q4 2:34) San Francisco 49ers touchdown — J. Jennings (J. Garoppolo pass) (Q4 0:31) Los Angeles Rams field goal — M. Gay (Q1 51:11, 3 pts) San Francisco 49ers field goal — R. Gould (Q2 30:03, 3 pts) San Francisco 49ers field goal — R. Gould (OT 2:48, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams?
M. Stafford (Los Angeles Rams), 55.3% completion, -2.0% CPOE, +0.36 EPA per dropback, +13.56 total passing EPA. J. Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers), 67.6% completion, +4.4% CPOE, +0.10 EPA per dropback, +3.39 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams?
C. Kupp (Los Angeles Rams) led the game in total EPA with +13.74 on receiving plays. across 7 snaps. The top single-play swing was (+4.18 EPA): (11:12) (Shotgun) 9-M.Stafford pass deep right to 10-C.Kupp to SF 29 for 46 yards (29-T.Hufanga).. The biggest win-probability swing was +34.6%.
Was San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams a close game?
Yes — the margin was 3 points. San Francisco 49ers won 27-24 in a game that came down to the wire.
Season records after this game
San Francisco 49ers
Entered 9-7 Now 10-7 W
Los Angeles Rams
Entered 12-4 Now 12-5 L
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