3 takeaways after 49ers lose to Rams, effectively end playoff hopes
“When the moment mattered, this team curdled. And the two moments in particular were the Deebo Samuel drop on a would-be touchdown, and a Brock Purdy season-concluding interception.
More on Samuel below. But on a 2nd-and-10 at the Rams 33-yard line, with Ricky Pearsall uncovered in the flat for an easy checkdown, he forced it into double coverage to Jauan Jennings down the sideline. Darious Williams picked him off.
That forced throw was representative of the season. It reflected the fact that Jennings was playing at X because Brandon Aiyuk is out for the year, that Jennings lacks the speed to consistently challenge defenses on deep vertical routes, and that the 49ers telegraphed their intention to get him the ball over everyone else time after time.