The Race Is On

Who, if anyone, will end up in Los Angeles next season?

Niners Battle Back, Top Rams In OT To Cap Off Rough Season

At Santa Clara, California:

Phil Dawson kicked four field goals on Sunday, including the game-winner from 23 yards out 11:33 into overtime as the San Francisco 49ers (5-11) came back from a 16-10 halftime deficit and knocked off the St. Louis Rams (7-9) 19-16 to close out the National Football League season for both clubs.

The Niners avoided going winless in divisional games for the first time since 1978.  It may also have been Jim Tomsula's swan song as San Francisco's head coach.

The game may have been the Rams' finale after 21 years as a representative of St. Louis with a possible return to Los Angeles for the 2016 season a distinct possibility.

Rams Smother Niners' Sleepy Offense

At St. Louis:

Running back Todd Gurley ran for 133 yards on 20 carries (71 of those yards on a touchdown run) as the St. Louis Rams (4-3) defeated the visiting San Francisco 49ers (2-6) 27-6 on Sunday.

Rams Recover Colin Kaepernick Fumble In End Zone In Waning Seconds, Knock Off Niners In Santa Clara

At Santa Clara, California:

Linebacker James Laurinaitis recovered a Colin Kaepernick fumble in the end zone with two seconds remaining as the St. Louis Rams (3-5) knocked off the San Francisco 49ers (4-4) 13-10 on the road on Sunday.  Greg Zuerlein kicked the game-winning field goal for the Rams from 39 yards out with 5:25 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Niners Overcome Sluggish Start, Beat Rams In St. Louis

At St. Louis:

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick completed 22 of 36 passes for 343 yards and three touchdowns (80 yards to Brandon Lloyd; 11 yards to Anquan Boldin; 32 yards to Michael Crabtree) while Phil Dawson kicked a 54-yard field goal and defensive back Dontae Johnson intercepted an Austin Davis pass and returned it 20 yards for the game's final touchdown on Monday night as the San Francisco 49ers (4-2) overcame a 14-0 deficit and scored 31 of the last 34 points en route to their third successive victory, 31-17 on the road over the St. Louis Rams (1-4). 

Hmmmm, A Plot Big Enough To Fit A Stadium....

That doesn't necessarily mean that the Rams are leaving St. Louis to return to Los Angeles.

Nod-nod, wink-wink.

Niners Too Much For Rams

At San Francisco:

Colin Kaepernick completed 19 of 28 passes for 275 yards and a touchdown (17 yards to Vernon Davis) and Frank Gore ran three yards for another score while Phil Dawson kicked three field goals (32, 43, 24 yards) as the San Francisco 49ers (8-4) defeated the visiting St. Louis Rams (5-7) 23-13 in Sunday National League action.  This was the final regular-season contest between these two old rivals at Candlestick Park.

Niners Get Back On Winning Track; Dominate Rams In St. Louis

At St. Louis:

Colin Kaepernick threw two touchdown passed (20 yards to Anquan Boldin, 12 yards to Vernon Davis) while Frank Gore ran wild, carrying the ball 20 times for 153 yards and a touchdown (34 yards) as the San Francisco 49ers (2-2) bounced back on Thursday night by manhandling the St. Louis Rams (1-3) 35-11 in National Football League action.

Late OT FG Sinks Niners

At St. Louis:

Greg Zuerlein, whose 53-yard field goal sent the game into overtime, kicked the game-winning 54-yarder with 26 seconds left in the extra period as the St. Louis Rams (5-6-1) knocked off the visiting San Francisco 49ers (8-3-1) 16-13 on Sunday.

Niners, Rams Battle To First NFL Draw Since 2008

At San Francisco:

After each team missed a field-goal attempt in overtime, the visiting St. Louis Rams (3-5-1) and San Francisco 49ers (6-2-1) battled to the National Football League's first draw in four years, 24-24 on Sunday.

Niners Foil Late Rams Rally, Clinch Number Two Seed In NFC Playoffs And First-Round Bye

At St. Louis:


Michael Crabtree caught two touchdown passes (one for 28 yards from Alex Smith and one for 14 yards from placekicker David Akers on a fake field goal attempt) and Anthony Dixon ran a yard in the fourth quarter for what proved to be the game winning score as the San Francisco 49ers (13-3) held off the home-standing St. Louis Rams (2-14) 34-27 on Sunday in the regular-season finale for both teams.  The win locked up a first-round bye and the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs for the Niners.  San Francisco will host a divisional playoff game in two weeks.

NINERS DOMINATE RAMS TO CLINCH FIRST DIVISION TITLE AND PLAYOFF BERTH SINCE '02

At San Francisco:


Alex Smith completed 17 or 23 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns (52 yards to Michael Crabtree and 56 to Kyle Williams), David Akers kicked four field goals (36', 19, 28, and 34 yards), and Frank Gore ran for 73 yards to become the team's all-time leader in rushing yards as the San Francisco 49ers (10-2) blanked the visiting Los Angeles Rams (2-10) 26-0 to lock up their first playoff berth and NFC Western Division title since 2002.

Niners Eliminated

At St. Louis:

Quarterback Sam Bradford completed 28 of 37 passes for 292 yards on Sunday to set a new rookie record for pass completions in a season and threw for a touchdown (3 yards to Laurent Robinson) as the St. Louis Rams (7-8) defeated the visiting San Francisco 49ers (5-10) 25-17 to stay very much alive in the race for the NFC Western Division title.  The loss assured the Niners, who finished the season 1-7 on the road of missing the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. 

NFC Worst: Niners Stay In Hunt As Rams And Seahawks Lose At Home; Cardinals Eliminated

Yes sir, boys and girls, in that junkyard known as the Western Division of the National Football Conference, even after getting piled upon in San Diego the other night, the 5-9 San Francisco 49ers are still alive in the race for the division title with two weeks remaining in the regular season as St. Louis and Seattle (both 6-8) lost at home on Sunday to Kansas City (9-5) and Atlanta (12-2, clinching a playoff berth) respectively.  Meanwhile, Arizona's (4-10) two-year run as division champions ended with their loss at Carolina (2-12).

Niners Top Rams In OT Thriller

At San Francisco:

Joe Nedney kicked his third field goal of the game with 9:38 remaining in overtime as the San Francisco 49ers (3-6) picked up their second straight win and third in their last four starts, 23-20 on Sunday over the visiting St. Louis Rams (4-5).  Quarterback Troy Smith threw for 356 yards and a touchdown in the victory.

You Can Buy The Rams, Stan....

Just at long as you turn over control of your basketball and hockey teams to your son.

Niners End String Of Consecutive Losing Seasons With Win At St. Louis Over Punchless Rams

At St. Louis:

Frank Gore ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns and Vernon Davis, with a touchdown reception, tied the NFL single-season record for TD catches by a tight end as the San Francisco 49ers (8-8) ended a string of six straight losing seasons with a 28-3 road victory over the St. Louis Rams (1-15), who finish with the league's worst record and will get the first overall pick in this April's NFL collegiate draft.

Niners Roast Rams To Go 3-1

At San Francisco:

In Sunday NFL action, the San Francisco 49ers improved to 3-1 on the season as they delivered a 35-0 home fistbeating to the now-0-4 St. Louis Rams.

Quarterback Shawn Hill completed 14 of 24 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns---13 yards to tight end Vernon Davis and 24 yards to wide receiver Josh Morgan. The defense did their part as linebacker Patrick Willis intercepted a Kyle Boller pass and returned it 23 yards for a touchdown, and defensive lineman Ray McDonald picked up a fumble and returned it 11 yards for another score.

The Niners host Atlanta next Sunday afternoon.