The Los Angeles Rams’ defense made a critical mistake late in their 27-24 win over the San Francisco 49ers, offering the Niners a golden opportunity to tie the game. The breakdown in the Rams’ secondary was so significant that it even caught the 49ers off guard.
From a casual perspective, it appeared that 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy missed a huge opportunity by not hitting a wide-open Brandon Aiyuk for a potential touchdown. However, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan, the mistake in the Rams’ defensive coverage caused enough confusion to make Purdy hesitate.
With the 49ers down 24-17 and facing a first-and-20 from their own 48-yard line, Aiyuk found himself wide open downfield. Purdy saw him but hesitated to release the ball. The reason? Aiyuk had altered his route in response to the Rams’ busted coverage, and Purdy had to quickly assess if there was any safety help in the area.
Ultimately, Purdy decided to hold the ball, scramble to his right, and deliver a 5-yard pass to Jauan Jennings, missing the chance for a bigger play downfield. The Rams’ coverage failure saw a cornerback playing shallow, while there was no safety help over the top, leaving Aiyuk uncovered deep. The unexpected defensive lapse caused Purdy to second-guess the timing of the throw, leading to a missed opportunity.
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