The 49ers (2-12) host the St. Louis Rams (5-9) at Candlestick Park for a 1:15 PT kickoff on Christmas Eve in the NFC West home rematch.
Jamie Martin starts at quarterback for the Rams with Marc Bulger on the injury report. Steven Jackson runs the ball. Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce lead the receivers. Alex Smith starts for the 49ers; Maurice Hicks at running back; Brandon Lloyd at receiver.
Jamie Martin fills in for the injured Marc Bulger Sunday afternoon at Candlestick on Christmas Eve. The 49ers (2-12) host the 5-9 Rams in the kind of division home game where, with the late-December schedule producing both teams playing for nothing on the standings, the year's identity tape can produce one more credible chapter.
Alex Smith stays the starter. Maurice Hicks at running back (Frank Gore on the injury report after his first start). Brandon Lloyd the WR1. The Rams come in with Steven Jackson at running back.
Favored by St. Louis by 5 on the road. The kind of Christmas Eve home game where the year's identity, even with the late-season QB carousel, has a winnable opportunity.
Week 16 across the NFC sees the playoff field nearly set. The Seahawks (12-2), Bears, Falcons, Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Buccaneers, and Panthers compete for division titles and wild-card spots. The 49ers (2-12) are functionally eliminated. The Sunday game is the kind of week where the 49ers, against a 5-9 Rams team, can produce a winnable home game in front of the Christmas Eve home crowd.
Through fourteen games the 49ers are 2-12 with a -196 point differential. Alex Smith averages 5.0 yards per attempt with no TDs and nine INTs across five starts. Maurice Hicks fills in for Kevan Barlow and Frank Gore. Brandon Lloyd averages 56 receiving yards a game with three TDs. The defense allows 30.4 points per game. The Rams are 5-9 with Jamie Martin starting (Marc Bulger injured). Steven Jackson averages 90 rushing yards a game. Vegas opens St. Louis as 5-point road favorites; total 41.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 9-5 | W3 |
| Miami Dolphins | 7-7 | W4 |
| Buffalo Bills | 4-10 | L5 |
| New York Jets | 3-11 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Bengals | 11-3 | W4 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 9-5 | W2 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 5-9 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5-9 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Colts | 13-1 | L1 |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 10-4 | W1 |
| Tennessee Titans | 4-10 | L1 |
| Houston Texans | 2-12 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 11-3 | W2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 9-5 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 8-6 | L2 |
| Oakland Raiders | 4-10 | L4 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle Seahawks | 12-2 | W10 |
| St. Louis Rams | 5-9 | L3 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 4-10 | -- |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2-12 | L7 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 10-4 | W3 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 8-6 | L1 |
| Washington Redskins | 8-6 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 6-8 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 10-4 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 8-6 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 4-10 | L5 |
| Green Bay Packers | 3-11 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Carolina Panthers | 10-4 | W1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 9-5 | L1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 8-6 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 3-11 | L3 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Maurice Hicks 73 yard rush ( Joe Nedney kick) | 7-0 |
| Rams | Jeff Wilkins 50 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Rams | Steven Jackson 3 yard rush ( Jeff Wilkins kick) | 7-10 |
| Rams | Torry Holt 40 yard pass from Jamie Martin ( Jeff Wilkins kick) | 7-17 |
| Rams | Jeff Wilkins 51 yard field goal | 7-20 |
| 49ers | Frank Gore 10 yard rush ( Joe Nedney kick) | 14-20 |
| 49ers | Joe Nedney 56 yard field goal | 17-20 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Frank Gore 30 yard rush ( Joe Nedney kick) | 24-20 |
Maurice Hicks ran for 109 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown and the 49ers beat the St. Louis Rams 24-20 at Candlestick Park on Christmas Eve. Alex Smith threw for 131 yards efficiently. Joe Nedney made the kicks. The defense intercepted Jamie Martin twice and held Steven Jackson to 28 rushing yards. The 49ers improved to 3-12 in the kind of home division win that gave the Christmas Eve crowd a real holiday gift.[1][2][3]
Maurice Hicks ran for 109 yards Sunday afternoon at Candlestick on Christmas Eve. The 49ers' backup running back, in his first 100-yard rushing game, produced the kind of holiday-game performance the year's identity tape was looking for. The 49ers beat the St. Louis Rams 24-20 in the kind of division home win the team's fans needed.
Alex Smith threw for 131 yards efficiently. Hicks added a touchdown. The defense intercepted Jamie Martin twice and held Steven Jackson to 28 yards rushing. Joe Nedney made the kicks. Brandon Lloyd was quiet (1 catch for 23).
3-12. The kind of Christmas Eve home division win that, with Maurice Hicks's breakout and the defense's two interceptions, gave the year's identity tape the kind of game-day discipline the staff has been promising. The Houston Texans on the road next Sunday for the season finale (New Year's Day). The kind of December where the year's competitive identity has now produced two December competitive games. The kind of finale where, with the Texans needing the loss to keep the first overall pick, the 49ers' upset would help the Houston franchise's offseason direction.
49ers 24, Rams 20. Margin: +4. Fifteen-game record: 3-12, -192 differential.
* Maurice Hicks: 10 carries for 109, 1 TD.
* Alex Smith: 12-of-16 for 131, 0 TDs, 0 INTs.
* Brandon Lloyd: 1 catch for 23.
* Jamie Martin: 33-of-41 for 354, 1 TD, 2 INTs.
* Steven Jackson: 16 carries for 28, 1 TD.
* Torry Holt: receiving production.
* 49ers D: 2 INTs of Martin.
* 49ers 3-12 (Christmas Eve W); Rams 5-10.
A 24-20 Christmas Eve home division win over the St. Louis Rams at Candlestick. Maurice Hicks runs for 109 yards. The 49ers improve to 3-12.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored on their opening drive with a Maurice Hicks touchdown to make it 7-0. The Rams answered with a Steven Jackson touchdown to tie at 7-7. The 49ers added a Joe Nedney field goal to make it 10-7. The Rams added a field goal to tie at 10-10 at halftime. The third quarter was a 49ers touchdown to push the lead to 17-10. The Rams added a touchdown to tie at 17-17. The 49ers added a Nedney field goal in the fourth quarter to make it 20-17. The Rams added another field goal to tie at 20-20. The 49ers' final possession ended with a Nedney 24-yard field goal as time expired to win it 24-20.
The turning point
Joe Nedney's final field goal as time expired. With the score tied 20-20 and the year's identity tape on the verge of producing the kind of Christmas Eve home win the crowd needed, the kicker's late drive set up the game-winning kick.
By the numbers
Smith 131 passing on 16 attempts with no TDs and no INTs. Hicks 109 rushing on 10 carries with a TD. Brandon Lloyd 23 receiving. Jamie Martin 354 on 41 attempts with a TD and two INTs. Steven Jackson 28 rushing with a TD.
Personnel watch
Maurice Hicks's first 100-yard rushing game. Alex Smith's clean efficient passing day. Joe Nedney's walk-off field goal. The defense's two interceptions of Jamie Martin. The kind of Christmas Eve home win where the year's identity, in its third competitive December game, actually produced the kind of football the new staff has been promising.
What it means
3-12 with the Texans on the road next Sunday for the season finale on New Year's Day. The kind of Christmas Eve home win that gives the year's identity tape one more credible chapter. The Texans game on New Year's Day is the kind of finale where, with Houston needing the loss to keep the first overall pick, the 49ers' upset would directly affect the offseason draft order.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Alex Smith | 12/16 | 131 | 0 | 0 | |
| STL | |||||
| Jamie Martin | 33/41 | 354 | 1 | 2 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Maurice Hicks | 10 | 109 | 1 | 73 |
| Frank Gore | 10 | 68 | 2 | 30 |
| Alex Smith | 7 | 21 | 0 | 7 |
| Terry Jackson | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Arnaz Battle | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| STL | ||||
| Steven Jackson | 16 | 28 | 1 | 7 |
| Jamie Martin | 2 | 11 | 0 | 9 |
| Marshall Faulk | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jason McAddley | 2 | 38 | 0 | 22 |
| Arnaz Battle | 4 | 37 | 0 | 14 |
| Terry Jones | 2 | 26 | 0 | 21 |
| Brandon Lloyd | 2 | 18 | 0 | 10 |
| Terry Jackson | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Maurice Hicks | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| STL | ||||
| Torry Holt | 10 | 163 | 1 | 40 |
| Isaac Bruce | 6 | 73 | 0 | 30 |
| Marshall Faulk | 9 | 44 | 0 | 18 |
| Madison Hedgecock | 2 | 25 | 0 | 13 |
| Steven Jackson | 3 | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| Kevin Curtis | 2 | 15 | 0 | 12 |
| Shaun McDonald | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.
Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 2005 W16 - 49ers at St. Louis Rams - Game Thread
