NFL Week 18 Game Recap: Los Angeles Rams 21, San Francisco 49ers 20

2WB0DF8 Los Angeles Rams quarterback Carson Wentz (11) celebrates after scoring against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Most of the usual starters rested for this NFC West season finale with both teams playoff-bound, so in a showdown between Sam Darnold and Carson Wentz, Wentz and the Los Angeles Rams picked up the win to close out the regular season.

Offensive spotlight: The Rams gave Matthew Stafford the day off, so Wentz led the way throwing the ball 24 times for 163 yards, two touchdowns, a successful two-point conversion and an interception. Wentz also ran the ball 16 times for 57 yards and a touchdown, leading the team in all rushing categories. Wentz’s top receiver, once Puka Nacua left the game and with Cooper Kupp not playing, was tight end Brycen Hopkins, who caught two passes for 47 yards. Kyren Williams also rested for this game so Ronnie Rivers was the lead back, carrying the ball 13 times for 52 rushing yards.

The 49ers closed out their season with mostly backups in the lineup, including Sam Darnold at quarterback, who threw for 189 yards on 16-for-26 passing, which led to one touchdown on the day. Elijah Mitchell was the 49ers' lead running back, running for 52 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. Chris Conley caught three passes for a game-leading 69 receiving yards.

Defensive spotlight: Rams rookie edge defender Byron Young came into this game just two sacks behind his own teammate Kobie Turner for the most on the year among rookies. Turner’s nine lead all rookies this season, and Young did his best to close that gap by adding his eighth in this one, but Turner will officially finish with the most. The Rams locked up the top two spots on that list, as Young finished second in rookie sacks.

Rookie spotlight: Rams fifth-round rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua broke the NFL’s all-time rookie record for receptions (105) and receiving yards (1,486) in this game — a record set in 1960 and previously held by Bill Groman. Once the records were broken, Nacua was pulled from the game, finishing with six targets, four receptions, 41 receiving yards and a touchdown. 


Box Score

Passing
Los Angeles Rams
Player Fantasy Comp/Att Yds YPA TD Int
Carson Wentz 27.12 17 / 24 163 6.8 2 1
San Francisco 49ers
Player Fantasy Comp/Att Yds YPA TD Int
Sam Darnold 18.46 16 / 26 189 7.3 1 0
Rushing
Los Angeles Rams
Player Fantasy Car Yds YPC TD Long
Carson Wentz 27.12 17 56 3.3 1 12
Ronnie Rivers 5.2 13 52 4 0 10
Tutu Atwell 4.3 1 -4 -4 0 0
Royce Freeman 2.5 4 2 0.5 0 4
Zach Evans 0.3 1 3 3 0 3
San Francisco 49ers
Player Fantasy Car Yds YPC TD Long
Sam Darnold 18.46 7 19 2.7 1 9
Elijah Mitchell 14.7 14 52 3.7 1 14
Ray-Ray McCloud III 5.9 1 7 7 0 7
Jordan Mason 5.8 6 36 6 0 16
Deebo Samuel 5.2 1 11 11 0 11
Receiving
Los Angeles Rams
Player Fantasy Tgt Rec Yds YPR TD
Puka Nacua 14.1 6 4 41 10.2 1
Tyler Johnson 8.8 3 2 8 4 1
Brycen Hopkins 6.7 3 2 47 23.5 0
Davis Allen 6.5 4 4 25 6.2 0
Tutu Atwell 4.3 4 2 7 3.5 0
Ben Skowronek 4.2 2 2 22 11 0
Royce Freeman 2.5 1 1 13 13 0
San Francisco 49ers
Player Fantasy Tgt Rec Yds YPR TD
Elijah Mitchell 14.7 2 2 15 7.5 0
Chris Conley 9.9 6 3 69 23 0
Ronnie Bell 7.5 5 1 5 5 1
Ray-Ray McCloud III 5.9 4 3 22 7.3 0
Jordan Mason 5.8 1 1 12 12 0
Brandon Aiyuk 5.5 4 3 25 8.3 0
Deebo Samuel 5.2 2 2 21 10.5 0
Charlie Woerner 3 1 1 20 20 0
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