"He needs to be benched": NFL fans react to Kyren Williams' costly goal-line fumble as 49ers pull off stunning OT win vs. Rams

NFL: SEP 21 Rams at Eagles - Source: Getty
Kyren Williams cost his team the win vs. 49ers with fumble - Source: Getty

The Los Angeles Rams found themselves down 7-20 against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night but staged a furious comeback to tie the game. But with just over a minute left, disaster struck.

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Running back Kyren Williams took the handoff and charged towards the endzone - only for rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins to steal the ball from him at the goal line in a very costly fumble:

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The 49ers went three-and-out on their ensuing drive, then allowed the game-tying field goal with two seconds left. However, they still won 26-23 in overtime via a field goal, then a fourth-down stuff defensive stop on Williams by Marques Sigle.

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After the game, Williams, who finished with 14 carries for 65 yards and eight catches for another 66 and two touchdowns, bore the brunt of the blame, especially for said fumble:

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"That was abysmal," one groaned.
"Get ready to speak unemployment buddy," another warned.
"Bro needs to watch film again," another demanded.

The loss spoiled a near-immaculate performance by Matthew Stafford, who covered 389 yards on 30 completions but also lost a fumble in the second quarter. Half of the completions went to wideouts Davante Adams and Puka Nacua, who accounted for 173 yards and a score between them, while slot receiver Tutu Atwell covered 72 yards on just two grabs.

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Recap of TNF as Kyren Williams and Rams' costly errors, Mac Jones' resurgence steal spotlight

The 49ers began the game nearly disastrously, as Skyy Moore muffed the initial return of the opening kickoff. However, he managed to pick it back up. That drive ended in a Mac Jones touchdown pass to Jake Tonges.

The Rams took the field next, but their drive ended in a punt that Jones punished by finding Christian McCaffrey for six. And then Matthew Stafford fumbled the ball on the next drive, losing it to Trevis Gipson.

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The Rams managed to recompose themselves by forcing a punt that they punished with a passing touchdown to Kyren Williams, but Eddy Pineiro scored a field goal in response. He repeated to extend the lead to 13 after his counterpart Joshua Karty missed an attempt at the start of the second half.

From there, Stafford went to work. Aided by a 49ers punt, he threw two touchdowns to Williams and Puka Nacua, but Karty had an extra point attempt blocked to leave the game tied.

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This left the Rams vulnerable when Pineiro ended an exchange of punts with a field goal. That was when Williams fumbled to return possession to the 49ers.

But the 1 was not the best place to start the ensuing drive at, and they went three-and-out, with Thomas Morestead landing the ball precariously at the Rams’ 47. With not much territory needed to work at, Stafford engineered the game-tying drive as Karty finally made a field goal with two seconds left.

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Unfortunately, that was where the hosts’ luck would run out. The 49ers received the ball in overtime and made it all the way to the 23, where Pineiro made it 4/4 on field goals.

This put the Rams in a difficult situation: tie the game with a field goal, or win it with a touchdown. They chose the latter, but chose poorly - on fourth down, Williams was stuffed by Marques Sigle to end the game.

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Edited by Andre Castillo
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