What we learned when the 49ers squandered Jennings’ career game in loss to the Rams originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

RESULT

INGLEWOOD – The 49ers got off to a good start and had several opportunities to pull away on Sunday.

But they botched it due to numerous special teams errors, dropped passes and defensive blunders.

How good are the 49ers really?

Not very good at all, it seems.

At least the 49ers have a lot of work ahead of them following their disastrous and embarrassing 27-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.

The 49ers (1-2) had every chance to win the game early, but showed no killer instinct and succumbed under pressure against the previously winless Rams (1-2).

The 49ers just messed up. It’s that simple.

Here are the takeaways from San Francisco’s Week 3 collapse:

Wither under pressure

Two players from the 49ers’ 2023 NFL Draft had the chance to become heroes.

But Jake Moody missed a 55-yard field goal attempt that would have decided the game. And after the Rams tied the score, wide receiver Ronnie Bell dropped a long pass that would have given Moody another chance.

It was a day full of dropped passes and special teams breakdowns for San Francisco.

The Rams took advantage of the 49ers’ weak special teams with a fake punt in the second quarter. The 49ers led 14-0 at the time and the fourth down allowed LA to score its first touchdown of the game.

Moody’s missed field goal attempt prevented the 49ers from building a 10-point lead late in the game. After the Rams crossed the field for the tying touchdown, the 49ers’ offense stalled due to Bell’s dropped pass.

Then Rams rookie Xavier Smith set up the game-winning field goal with a 37-yard punt return.

Purdy hopes Jennings will fill the gap

For their strong start on Sunday, the 49ers were able to rely on a receiver who signed a multi-year contract extension in the offseason.

It wasn’t Brandon Aiyuk. It was Jauan Jennings.

Jennings had a career day, catching 11 passes for career-highs of 175 yards and three touchdowns.

Quarterback Brock Purdy had a great game without Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, completing 22 of 30 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. His passer rating was 137.1 and he also gained 41 yards on 10 carries.

While all the attention was focused on Aiyuk’s stormy contract situation during the offseason, Jennings signed a two-year, $15.3 million contract as a restricted free agent.

Aiyuk, on the other hand, was unable to catch several catchable passes in the first half. He missed a pass that would have been a third down in Rams territory and caught five passes for just 48 yards in the entire game.

Pass rush and pass coverage poor

The Rams were missing their two best receivers, with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua out with injuries.

Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford didn’t seem to mind, tearing the 49ers defense apart in the crucial moments. Stafford completed 16 of 25 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown.

Tutu Atwell caught four passes for 93 yards and set up the Rams’ tying touchdown with his 50-yard pass.

With the score tied, the 49ers were assessed three penalties on the same play. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was penalized for defensive holding and illegal use of hands. However, it was De’Vondre Campbell’s pass interference penalty that accounted for 25 yards and allowed Joshua Karty’s game-winning 37-yard field goal.

It was clear who the Rams were targeting for most of the game, as Stafford successfully attacked cornerback Isaac Yiadom in nickel situations.

Yiadom allowed a few completions and was assessed a 48-yard penalty for pass interference against Atwell in the third quarter. That play led to a Rams touchdown that cut the 49ers lead to 21-14 late in the third quarter.

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