49ers Drop Week 3 Matchup to the Rams; Five Takeaways from #SFvsLAR

Lindsey Pallares

The San Francisco 49ers dropped their first NFC West matchup of the year, falling 27-14 to the Los Angeles Rams on the road. With the loss, the 49ers head into Week 4 with a 1-2 record and will host the New England Patriots at Levi’s® Stadium next weekend.

Here are five takeaways from the 49ers vs. Rams game:

QB1 Posts His Second 100-Plus Quarterback Rating of the Season

Even with a number of his top weapons sidelined – tight end George Kittle, wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. and running back Christian McCaffrey (on Injured Reserve) – San Francisco’s QB1 was able to lead an efficient and productive unit with scoring opportunities in five of its nine drives. Purdy ended the day connecting on 22-of-30 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 137.1. He also made a number of plays on his own, scrambling for 41 yards in this matchup. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings was his favorite target of the day, but he also had five pass-catchers in double-digits and leaned on third-year running back Jordan Mason to lead the way on the ground with 19 carries for 77 yards.

Wide Receiver Jauan Jennings Stuns in LA

Jennings recorded his first-ever three-touchdown performance of his career in Week 3 and a career-high in yards with 11 catches for 175 yards. Jennings has enjoyed some of his most productive outings at SoFi Stadium, most recently catching two touchdown passes in San Francisco’s 27-24 overtime win in the 2021 season finale. That win earned the 49ers their spot in the Wild Card, and the team went on to make an appearance in the 2022 NFC Championship Game. The last 49ers player to record the hat trick was Kittle in Week 5 of the 2023 season versus the Dallas Cowboys.

Sunday marked Jennings first start of the year, and he made the most of his increased workload in Week 3. He contributed two touchdowns in the first quarter and another in the third along with a number of contested catches and critical conversions. Jennings first touchdown was a 13-yard, back of the end zone reception to get the 49ers on the board in the opening drive. His second was a four-yard contested catch also in the back of the end zone, and his third came on a deep shot from Purdy to the left side of the field for the 34-yard touchdown.

The Return of the Tongan Tiger

Safety Talanoa Hufanga completed his comeback from an ACL tear on Sunday afternoon, suiting up and getting the start for the first time since going down in Week 11 of the 2023 season. It’s been a long road to recovery for the fourth-year pro, and he hit the ground running against the Rams, bringing down Los Angeles running back Kyren Williams in the defense’s first snap of the game. Hufanga closed out his first outing back with seven tackles.

The Gravedigger Gets Sack No. 1 of 2024

Defensive lineman Javon Hargrave recorded his first sack of the season, bursting through the gap between Rams offensive lineman Logan Bruss and Alaric Jackson in the second quarter to take down quarterback Matthew Stafford. The play resulted in a loss of nine yards and put Los Angeles in second and long situation they could not overcome. The 49ers defense opened up the game by forcing the Rams in back-to-back punts.

Injuries of the Game

Linebacker Dee Winters suffered an ankle injury during the Rams second quarter fake punt/fourth down conversion. He was labeled as questionable to return and did not return to game action. Left tackle Trent Williams exited the game with less than a minute to play in the first half on account of a cramp. He returned to the lineup in the third quarter. Hargrave had a tricep injury late in the game and did not return to action. Up Next Latest Videos Channel San Francisco 49ers Top Plays vs. Los Angeles Rams | 2024 Week 3 Latest Videos Channel Kyle Shanahan Shares Initial Reactions to 49ers Loss vs. Rams Latest Videos Channel Jennings Towers Over Defender to Snatch 32-Yard Dime from Purdy Latest Videos Channel Third Time’s the Charm: Purdy Hits Jennings for a 31-Yard TD Latest Videos Channel Jordan Mason Powers Through for an 18-Yard Run Latest Videos Channel Javon Hargrave Tracks Down Matthew Stafford for a Sack Latest Videos Channel Jauan Jennings Strikes Twice in First Quarter Latest Videos Channel Jauan Jennings Wide Open on a 13-Yard TD Catch  Latest Videos Channel Move The Chains: 49ers vs. Rams Pregame Chat with Ian Bohen | 1st & 10 Latest Videos Channel Kyle Shanahan Offers Final Injury Report Ahead of #SFvsLAR Latest Videos Channel Williams, Brown, Hufanga Discuss Preparation for #SFvsLAR Latest Videos Channel Brock Purdy: ‘We’ve Got Playmakers’ | 49ers Latest Videos Channel Nick Sorensen, Chris Foerster Preview #SFvsLAR Matchup Latest Videos Channel Bosa, Aiyuk, Warner Emphasize Importance of Game Execution Latest Videos Channel Kyle Shanahan Shares Updates on Hufanga, Previews #SFvsLAR  Latest Videos Channel Sights and Sounds of the 49ers London Watch Party 2024 Latest Videos Channel 49ers Most Electric Plays vs. NFC West of All Time Latest Videos Channel Fiel A Mi Cultura | 49ers Celebrate Latino Heritage Month Latest Videos Channel 1st & 10: Injury Updates, Storylines to Watch Ahead of 49ers vs. Rams in Week 3 Latest Videos Channel Mic’d Up: Javon Hargrave Battles Through the Vikings Latest Videos Channel 49ers Players Take Local Teachers Back to School Shopping Latest Videos Channel Bay Area Faithful Kickoff the 2024 Season with a 49ers Fan Rally Latest Videos Channel Relive Frank Gore’s Retirement with the San Francisco 49ers Latest Videos Channel Kittle, Purdy, Warner and Bosa Talk Week 2 Loss Latest Videos Channel Jordan Mason’s Best Plays from 104-Yard Game vs. the Minnesota Vikings  Latest Videos Channel San Francisco 49ers Top Plays vs. Minnesota Vikings in Week 2  Latest Videos Channel Kyle Shanahan on #SFvMIN: ‘Just Gotta Keep Working’ Latest Videos Channel Jordan Mason Zig-Zags into the End Zone for a TD Latest Videos Channel Fred Warner Forces Aaron Jones to Fumble the Ball  Latest Videos Channel Nick Bosa Takes Down Sam Darnold for His Second Sack Latest Videos Channel Kyle Juszczyk Toe-Taps for an 8-Yard Catch of Brock Purdy’s Pass Latest Videos Channel Nick Bosa Swarms Sam Darnold for a Sack  Latest Videos Channel Jordan Mason Speeds By For Electrifying 22-Yard Run Latest Videos Channel Kittle Secures a Seven-Yard Touchdown Reception Latest Videos Channel Can’t-Miss Play: Fred Warner Jumps Sam Darnold’s Pass for an INT Latest Videos Channel Deebo Samuel Sr. Leaps Over the Middle for a 28-Yard Catch Latest Videos Channel Purdy’s Tight Window Dart to Kittle Goes for 10 Yards Latest Videos Channel Brock Purdy Pinpoints George Kittle for the Catch Latest Videos Channel Kyle Shanahan Offers Final Injury Report Ahead of #SFvsMIN Latest Videos Channel WON Kicks Off the 2024 Season with Annual Insider Happy Hour