Short-handed 49ers stop Rams on downs in overtime, preserving a 26-23 victory

By Canadian Press on October 2, 2025.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Eddy Piñeiro hit a 41-yard field goal in overtime before the San Francisco defense stopped Kyren Williams on fourth down with 3:36 to play, and the short-handed 49ers hung on for a thrilling 26-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.

Mac Jones passed for 342 yards and two touchdowns for the 49ers (4-1), who won it in OT after a frantic fourth quarter featuring Piñeiro’s tiebreaking 59-yard field goal with 2:52 left, Williams’ subsequent goal-line fumble and Joshua Karty’s tying 48-yard field goal for the Rams (3-2) with 2 seconds to play.

The Rams gave the ball to San Francisco to begin overtime, and Jones drove to set up Piñeiro’s third field goal with 5:51 left.

Los Angeles marched down the field, and facing fourth-and-1 at the San Francisco 11, coach Sean McVay elected to go for it. Marques Sigle and Deommodore Lenoir got credit for smothering Williams well short of the first down.

Matthew Stafford passed for 389 yards and three touchdowns for the Rams.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Greg Beacham, The Associated Press