INGLEWOOD, Calif. — — The Los Angeles Rams, fresh off a 31-point loss and missing their top two receivers, took the field Sunday against a rival that has dominated them for five years.

In the second half, the Rams fell behind San Francisco by 14 points, and they still trailed by double digits midway through the fourth quarter.

Although Matthew Stafford has experienced many crazy things in his 16 years in professional football, exciting 27-24 comeback victory ranks high in the rankings – both for the manner in which it happened and for the heart his team showed in the grim circumstances.

“I’m not a fan of the improbable, the probable,” Stafford said. “The NFL is an improbable business, I’ll tell you that. You never know what’s going to happen week in and week out. You’ve got to go out there and earn it and prove it, and that’s what we’ve done.”

Kyren Williams rushed 4 yards for his third touchdown of the day with 1:51 left. Joshua Karty hit a 37-yard field goal with 2 seconds left to complete Los Angeles’ dramatic comeback, which saw them beat San Francisco 20-3 in the final 19 minutes.

The Rams (1-2) matched their franchise’s biggest second-half comeback victory since 2006, recording their second straight win over the 49ers (1-2) after losing nine of the previous 10 meetings against the NFC West archrivals.

Williams caught a TD pass and rushed for two scores for the Rams, who remarkably avoided their first 0-3 start under Sean McVay. Stafford passed for 221 yards and Tutu Atwell had four catches for 93 yards.

“I think there are games where you just bring a little bit more heat,” Williams said. “Just games where you can’t wait to play, when everyone’s doubting you and everyone’s saying, ‘The Rams are never going to win. The Rams are going to start 0-3.’ We definitely feel it, but it’s something that feeds us.”

Jauan Jennings set personal bests with 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns for the 49ers, who blew a lead of at least 14 points for the first time since 2018. While the Rams salvaged hope for their season, the reigning NFC champions were left frustrated, confused — and sub-.500 for the first time since Brock Purdy became their starting quarterback in 2022.

The Niners led 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter, but Jake Moody missed a 55-yard field goal attempt for San Francisco with 2:43 to play. Stafford hit Atwell for a 50-yard completion to the San Francisco 5, and Williams took it two plays later.

Ronnie Bell then threw a long pass with 1:02 left that could have put San Francisco within range of a field goal, and Xavier Smith – who was transferred from the Rams’ practice squad for this game – took his first career punt return 38 yards to the midfield.

A 25-yard pass interference penalty against linebacker De’Vondre Campbell put the Rams within range, but their rookie kicker buried the kick.

San Francisco threw a few more laterals as time expired, but the final play failed on the Rams’ sideline.

Purdy threw for 292 yards in the second straight loss for the Super Bowl favorites after they fell to Minnesota last week.

“Enough chances,” defensive end Nick Bosa said. “I can only speak for myself, and it wasn’t good enough. We’ve got to shut them down when we get the chance. … It’s definitely a tough start, but we’ve been through tough times before, but we just got to stick together.”

Both teams were without most of their top offensive playmakers due to injuries. The 49ers were without Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, while the Rams were without Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua and Tyler Higbee.

Purdy focused on Jennings, who caught two scoring passes in the first quarter and another in the third, becoming the first 49ers wide receiver with three touchdown catches in a game since Terrell Owens in 2001.

The former seventh-round pick had more TD catches on Sunday than he had in the previous two seasons combined, and his total catches and yards were more than his best two previous games combined.

“Jauan was unbelievable,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “The numbers show it, but more than the numbers, he was a fighter the whole game. That’s who he always is. He had a lot more opportunities today and he was automatic in every opportunity.”

Jennings’ most impressive catch was a leaping 32-yard catch over Quentin Lake lined up a field goal, giving the Niners a 24-14 lead.

Stafford didn’t complete a pass until Atwell made a running grab with about eight minutes left in the first half. Williams then made a short catch and did a full front-flip somersault into the end zone.

Jennings caught a 31-yard TD pass midway through the third quarter. Williams responded by scoring a rushing TD in his sixth straight game, tying Marshall Faulk’s franchise-record streak set in 2001.

Injuries

49ers: LB Dee Winters injured his ankle in the first half of his season debut, but he returned. … DT Javon Hargrave injured his triceps. Shanahan hopes it’s a contusion.

Rams: Los Angeles reported no injuries after losing several players to serious injuries in the first two games.

Next

49ers: Host New England on September 29.

Rams: Sept. 29 at Chicago.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL