Warner, 49ers Defense Shut Down Super Bowl Champs

SALT LAKE CITY – Former BYU linebacker Fred Warner and the San Francisco 49ers shut down the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football.

Warner & Niners Beat Rams

The 49ers hosted the Rams at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Monday, October 3.

San Francisco beat Los Angeles, 24-9.

FINAL: The @49ers win the rematch of last year's NFC Championship Game. #LARvsSF pic.twitter.com/t0TCQqXoIB

— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2022

Warner and his teammates limited last year’s top team to only three field goals and forced a pair of fourth quarter turnovers in the prime time game.

L.A. looked to have things rolling early on and marched down the field on its opening drive of the contest. However, the Niners forced the Rams to send former Utah Utes kicker Matt Gay out for a 39-yard field goal on the possession.

.@Fred_Warner after the dub. #FTTB #LARvsSF pic.twitter.com/SOSYE5eqnv

— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2022

49ers running back Jeff Wilson broke loose to a 32-yard touchdown run near the end of the first quarter to give San Francisco a 7-3 lead. The 49ers never trailed again.

With 6:22 left in the first half, Gay kicked another field goal to cut the 49ers’ lead to one-point.

A 57-yard connection between Jimmy Garoppolo and Deebo Samuel helped San Francisco stretch its lead to 14-6 before halftime.

Deebo just ran by the entire defense! @19problemz

📺: #LARvsSF on ESPN
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/keYveuhX3P pic.twitter.com/qDMjV1kbO5

— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2022

Gay connected on his third field goal of the game late in the third quarter for Los Angeles’ final points of the night.

After the Niners added another field goal to open the fourth quarter, San Francisco’s defense went to work finishing the game.

With 6:27 remaining in the game, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was picked off by Talanoa Hufanga, who returned the ball 52 yards to the end zone for a 49ers touchdown.

TZZ UP FOR BIG HUF

First-career pick 6 for @TalanoaHufanga!

📺 #LARvsSF on @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/GmfWfvTjq6

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 4, 2022

On Los Angeles’ next drive, Warner and the Niners continued to pressure Stafford, who lost a fumble with 1:58 left to play. San Francisco recovered the ball to seal its victory.

Oh snap! Our ball 🙌

49ers defense does it again!

📺 #LARvsSF on @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/polF4LU9Mx

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 4, 2022

Stafford finished his rough night 32/48 passing for 254 yards and one interception. He ran the ball twice for six yards and lost one fumble. Stafford was sacked seven times for 54 yards.

Locals in the NFL

Warner finished the game with nine total tackles and six solo tackles. This season, Warner has recorded 25 total tackles, 15 solo tackles, and one pass breakup.

That's our guy @fred_warner 🫡

📱 https://t.co/LaP0Sr7lhV pic.twitter.com/V34sW7r7xP

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 4, 2022

Former Utah and current 49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky punted the ball four times with an average of 39.5 yards per kick. He pinned one punt inside the Rams’ 20-yard line.

Gay finished the night 3/3 on field goals and was the only Ram to score.

Former Utah State and current Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner had 10 total tackles and seven total tackles.

Bobby Wagner out here preventing TDs 💪 @bwagz

📺: #LARvsSF on ESPN
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/keYveuhX3P pic.twitter.com/mHsKTPI1jC

— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2022

Up Next

With the result, both teams moved to 2-2 records this season.

Los Angeles’ next game is at home against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, October 9 at 2:25 p.m. (MDT) on FOX.

San Francisco’s next game is on the road against the Carolina Panthers on October 9 at 2:05 p.m. on CBS.

Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for sports.ksl.com and co-host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).

Follow @kyleireland