Santa Clara, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Twice in the game’s final seconds, the
49ers were within inches of victory.
But Michael Crabtree rolled out-of-bounds inside the 1-yard line and Colin
Kaepernick fumbled on the goal line, as the St. Louis Rams went into Levi’s
Stadium and stunned San Francisco, 13-10, in an NFC West showdown.
Greg Zuerlein put the Rams (3-5) in front with a field goal midway through the
fourth. After both teams were forced to punt, San Francisco’s offense, which
hadn’t done anything in the second half until then, marched into scoring
position with time winding down.
Kaepernick started the final drive with a 25-yard pitch-and-catch to Stevie
Johnson, who made a defender miss before running to the Niners 37. A penalty
on Lamarcus Joyner gave the 49ers another first down out of the two-minute
warning.
Later in the drive, Crabtree drew two straight penalties — a pass
interference and defensive holding — on Trumaine Johnson to set up 1st-and-
goal for the Niners with 42 seconds left. Kaepernick rolled right and hit
Crabtree near the goal line on first down, but he had to go to the ground to
make the catch and rolled out-of-bounds inches before the goal line. A booth
review confirmed the call.
Kaepernick’s second down pass sailed out of the back of the end zone, and the
ball popped free on his QB sneak on third down. James Laurinaitis recovered
the fumble on the bottom of the pile, sealing the outcome.
