Travin Howard made a game-sealing interception with 1:09 to play, and the Los Angeles Rams rallied from a 10-point deficit within the fourth quarter to safe a spot within the Tremendous Bowl at their residence stadium subsequent month with an exhilarating 20-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers within the NFC championship sport Sunday night time.
Cooper Kupp caught two landing passes from Matthew Stafford for the star-studded Rams (15-5), who started the fourth quarter down 17-7 after losing a mess of scoring alternatives.
However after Kupp's second TD catch and a tying area objective on a drive prolonged by Jaquiski Tartt's brutal dropped interception, the Rams drove for Matt Homosexual's go-ahead, 30-yard area objective with 1:46 to play.
Los Angeles' protection then received it when Aaron Donald received maintain of Jimmy Garoppolo and compelled him to fling a cross towards JaMycal Hasty. The ball caromed excessive within the air off Hasty's fingers and got here straight right down to Howard, who did not miss it.
"I've received whole belief and confidence in that protection, man," stated Stafford, who handed for 337 yards within the third playoff victory of his 13-year profession. "They have been unbelievable all yr. Solution to freakin' ice the sport. I cherished it."
Los Angeles will welcome the Cincinnati Bengals in two weeks for Tremendous Bowl 56 in Rams proprietor Stan Kroenke's multibillion-dollar SoFi Stadium.
After 54 consecutive Tremendous Bowls with out an NFL group enjoying in its residence stadium, the Rams are the second group to do it in two seasons after Tampa Bay broke the streak final yr.
"You possibly can't write the story any higher," Stafford stated. "I am confused. I am simply having a blast enjoying ball with these guys and, shoot, we have yet another on the residence stadium. Let's get it finished."
The Rams received their second convention title up to now 4 years beneath coach Sean McVay and moved one step from the franchise's second championship within the Tremendous Bowl period. Maybe much more impressively, Los Angeles lastly snapped a six-game shedding streak towards its San Francisco archrivals, who secured their playoff berth with an extra time comeback victory in Inglewood simply three weeks in the past.
Deebo Samuel and George Kittle caught landing passes from Garoppolo, who handed for 232 yards in a heartbreaker for the 49ers (12-8). Coach Kyle Shanahan punted twice from the Rams' half of the sector and a 3rd time from the 50, and that warning doubtless ended up costing San Francisco.
San Francisco additionally will lament its late-game execution, however no mistake was greater than the dropped interception by Tartt, who might have put the Rams in dire straits moments after McVay wasted his last timeout on a failed problem with 10:01 left.
In entrance of a crowd full of followers of each California golf equipment, San Francisco held a 10-7 halftime lead after a litany of missed alternatives by Los Angeles.
The Rams received to the San Francisco 3 on their second drive, however Ok'Waun Williams alertly tipped an finish zone cross to Jimmie Ward for an extended interception return. The decide was Stafford's first of the playoffs, however his fifth in three video games towards the Niners.
Los Angeles shook it off, received a defensive cease and made an 18-play, 97-yard drive consuming greater than 9 1/2 minutes. Kupp capped it along with his 16-yard TD catch behind the tip zone.
However the Niners answered with yet one more second of brilliance of Samuel, who caught an inside display screen cross and rampaged by way of the Los Angeles protection. The All-Professional dived to the pylon for his first profession postseason scoring catch.
The Rams' errors multiplied: Kupp and rookie Ben Skowronek dropped potential scoring passes on LA's subsequent drive, which ended with a missed 54-yard area objective by Homosexual.
Samuel shook off an enormous, clear hit from Rams security Nick Scott on San Francisco's drive ending in Robbie Gould's 38-yard area objective on the halftime gun for a 10-7 lead.
San Francisco's protection stopped the Rams on downs close to midfield within the third quarter, and Garoppolo hit Kittle for his second TD cross moments later. Los Angeles stored it shut with a gritty drive ending in Kupp's 11-yard TD catch early within the fourth quarter.
After 54 consecutive Tremendous Bowls with out an NFL group enjoying in its residence stadium, the Rams are the second group to do it in two seasons after Tampa Bay broke the streak final yr.