49ers at St. Louis Rams

Jamie Martin threw three touchdown passes and the St. Louis Rams beat the 49ers 31-20 at the Edward Jones Dome in the season finale. Tim Rattay, in his start for the rested Jeff Garcia, threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Tai Streets caught five for 53 with two touchdowns. Garrison Hearst ran for 67. The 49ers finished 10-6 with the road finale loss. The 49ers head to the playoffs as the NFC West champions and the #4 seed.[1][2][3]

Tim Rattay started the season finale Sunday morning at the Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers (10-5 entering) rested Jeff Garcia and lost 31-20 to the St. Louis Rams in the kind of season-finale road game where, with the NFC West clinched and the playoff seeding set, the result was less important than the playoff health-check.

Rattay was 14-of-21 for 138 with two touchdowns. Tai Streets caught five for 53 with two TDs. Garrison Hearst ran for 67. Jamie Martin threw three touchdowns for the Rams. Marshall Faulk ran for 43. The 49ers' offense produced 20 points with the backup quarterback.

10-6. The kind of season finale where the year's identity tape, with the NFC West already clinched, ended the regular season with the kind of playoff seeding the offseason will remember. The 49ers head to the playoffs as the NFC West champions and the #4 seed. The Wild Card round on the road. The kind of December where the 49ers' competitive identity, with the kind of season arc the staff has been building, has produced the kind of playoff position the offseason expected.

Rams 31, 49ers 20. Margin: -11. Sixteen-game record: 10-6 (NFC West champions, #4 seed), +16 differential.

* Jamie Martin: 22-of-35 for 245, 3 TDs, 2 INTs.
* Marshall Faulk: 11 carries for 43.
* Torry Holt: receiving production.
* Tim Rattay: 14-of-21 for 138, 2 TDs (Streets x2), 0 INTs (starting for rested Garcia).
* Garrison Hearst: 19 carries for 67.
* Tai Streets: 5 catches for 53, 2 TDs.
* 49ers 10-6 (NFC West champs, #4 seed); Rams 7-9.

A 31-20 cross-conference road season-finale loss at the Edward Jones Dome. Tim Rattay starts for the rested Jeff Garcia. The 49ers finish 10-6 as NFC West champions and the #4 seed.

How it unfolded

The Rams scored on their opening drive with a Jamie Martin touchdown to make it 7-0. The 49ers answered with a Rattay touchdown to Streets to tie at 7-7. The Rams added two more touchdowns in the first half to push the lead to 21-7. The 49ers added a Rattay second touchdown to Streets to make it 21-14 at halftime. The third quarter was a Rams touchdown to make it 28-14. The fourth quarter was a 49ers field goal and a final Rams field goal. Final 31-20. The 49ers added one more touchdown to close it.

The turning point

The Rams' second-quarter touchdowns. With Tim Rattay's start for the rested Jeff Garcia producing the kind of game the staff was hoping the backup could deliver, Jamie Martin's two touchdown drives gave the Rams the kind of lead they needed.

By the numbers

Rattay 138 passing on 21 attempts with two TDs and no INTs. Hearst 67 rushing on 19 carries. Streets 53 receiving on 5 catches with two TDs. Owens 49 receiving on 6 catches. Martin 245 on 35 attempts with three TDs and two INTs. Marshall Faulk 43 rushing.

Personnel watch

Tim Rattay's clean two-touchdown finale (starting for the rested Garcia). Tai Streets's two-touchdown game. Garrison Hearst's productive day. The defense's two interceptions of Jamie Martin. The kind of season finale where the year's playoff position was already set.

What it means

10-6 with the playoffs ahead. The NFC West champions, the #4 seed, and the Wild Card round on the road. The kind of season finale that closed the regular season with the playoff position the offseason expected. The Wild Card round next week will likely be either the New York Giants or another NFC East/wild-card team. The Mariucci era's sixth year produced the team's first division title since 1997. The offseason will be about whether Mariucci returns, the Terrell Owens contract, and the kind of playoff run that, with a healthy Garcia and Hearst, the team can produce.