Wounded 49ers win OT thriller against Rams: Rapid reactions

The San Francisco 49ers headed to Inglewood to play the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, and few people gave them much of a chance. With no Brock Purdy, Jauan Jennings, George Kittle, or Ricky Pearsall, you had to wonder if the 49ers could manage to score. But the offense looked good, the defense came through, and the 49ers beat the Rams 26-23. In an overtime thriller.

Here are my rapid reactions. These are my live responses to the game action as it unfolded. Grab a seat and let's jump in.

• I thought Skyy Moore was going to lose that opening kickoff. That knuckle kick is nasty.
• Not a great start for Connor Colby. He whiffed on a block and then had a false start.
• Three plays. Three touches for Christian McCaffrey.
• Big play by Kendrick Bourne. The 49ers need him to step up tonight.

• Great opening drive by the 49ers and "Mr. Touchdown," Jake Tonges scores again. Mac Jones was 5-5 and overcame a Colton McKivitz holding call.

• Bryce Huff with a big second-down sack.

• I'm not sure why Moore keeps fielding punts inside the 10-yard line.
• Tough catch in traffic by Marquez Valdes-Scantling. So far, the 49ers' receivers are coming up big.
• I like seeing McCaffrey and Brian Robinson on the field at the same time.
• It's early, but the run game has been better so far.
• Demarcus Robinson is a professional wide receiver.
• And that was a great throw by Jones.

• The 49ers offense is clicking on all cylinders in this first half. 14-0 San Francisco.

• Even the kick coverage has been good so far. (Knocks on wood)
• Trevis Gipson recovers a fumble in his first game with the 49ers. Credit Sam Okuayinonu with the forced fumble.

• Bourne dropped another one. This one would likely have been a first down. That forces a punt, and the 49ers can't cash in on the turnover. Drops kill.
• That was an ugly defensive series for the 49ers. The Rams move down the field with no trouble. It's 14-7.
• That Bourne drop looks even bigger now.
• Bourne didn't line up in the right spot two plays in a row. He looked lost on those plays.
• It's so nice having a kicker you can count on. Eddie Piñeiro makes it 17-7 at the half. And that was an excellent drive to score and not give the Rams the ball back.
• The 49ers caught a break on the first drive of the second half with a dropped pass and a missed field goal. I'm sure they won't complain.
• Now Jones is limping. I don't think any of us wants to see Adrian Martinez have to come in to play QB.
• Bourne is definitely making up for the drop and penalty.

• Jones is getting hit too much. The offensive line has to protect him better.
• Jake Brendel is not making that any easier.
• Jones is one tough dude. What a gutsy performance. I've been so impressed by him.
• The first and goal that turned into a field goal is going to be a problem.
• Injuries continue piling up for the 49ers. Kalia Davis (hand) and Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) are out. Dee Winters (shoulder) is questionable. Jones is on one leg. If the 49ers pull this one out, it will be very impressive.
• The 49ers are about to lose their lead.
• Winters is back out there.
• Robert Saleh's defense is falling apart.
• Wow, the 49ers blocked the PAT, and the game is tied. I'm not used to seeing good special teams plays from San Francisco.

• Win or lose, the 49ers are playing with a ton of heart tonight.
• Piñeiro from 59 yards for the lead. Incredible!

• Can the defense close it out?
• Great job by Alfred Collins to knock the ball loose and recover it. Huge play by the rookie!

• The 49ers will be punting from their three-yard line. The defense will have to hold again.
• I wasn't crazy about the conservative play-calling by Shanahan, but maybe he had no choice.
• Piñeiro gives the 49ers the lead in overtime, but now the defense has to find a way to hold again.
• They somehow do, and the banged-up 49ers win a thriller.

The 49ers played with great heart tonight, beating the Rams in overtime. And now San Francisco has 10 days before they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Will Purdy be the quarterback or will Jones continue to drive the bus? If there's any chance Purdy can re-aggravate that toe, he should sit out until he's healthy. We now know that Jones can win some games for the 49ers.

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