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Archives for December 13, 2024

No “O” – Rams Defeat SF 49ers, 12-6

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SANTA CLARA – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Los Angeles placekicker Joshua Karty booted a go-ahead 27-yard field goal with 9:28 remaining and Darious Williams came down with a crucial interception to lift the LA Rams to a 12-6 win over the San Francisco 49ers (thus 6ers) on Thursday night in Northern California.

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Heavy rain before halftime prevented both teams from finding an offensive rhythm, but Los Angeles (8-6) did just enough to earn its seventh win in nine games. The loss by the 49ers practically eliminated their chance of qualifying for the NFL postseason.

With the game tied at six-apiece, it looked as if the Rams were headed for the end zone after Puka Nacua got behind San Francisco’s secondary and hauled in a 51-yard pass from Matthew Stafford early in the fourth quarter.

The 49ers’ defense soon got a stop on third-and-2, though, forcing Los Angeles to bring out Karty for his 27-yarder.

San Francisco (6-8) quickly worked down to the Los Angeles 33 on its ensuing drive. Brock Purdy proceeded to throw a deep ball near the near-side pylon that Williams picked off, and Karty later made good on a 29-yard field goal with 18 seconds to go.

Although a horse-collar tackle on the following kickoff set the Niners up at the 50-yard line, they couldn’t generate a miracle in the final seconds.

Stafford completed 16 of 27 passes for 160 yards, with Nacua (seven catches, 97 yards) serving as his favorite target. Kyren Williams was a workhorse on the ground, going for 108 yards on 29 carries.

Star receiver Cooper Kupp didn’t have a single reception for the Rams.

Purdy finished 14 of 31 for 142 yards and the interception. Isaac Guerendo had 16 carries for 57 yards as San Francisco got outgained 302-191 in total yards.

Jake Moody and Karty exchanged second-half field goals within a span of just under 10 minutes to forge the 6-6 tie.

Amid the rain, San Francisco punted on six of its seven first-half drives.

The 49ers’ only successful drive before the break ended with Moody’s 53-yard field goal with 10:01 left in the first quarter. A 33-yard completion to George Kittle over the middle helped set up the kick.

After punting on its five first drives of the game, Los Angeles finally tied the contest with 65 seconds remaining in the first half on a 48-yard field goal from Karty.

The Rams climbed within a half-game of the first-place Seattle Seahawks (8-5) in the NFC West. The defending conference champion 49ers are last in the division, a half-game behind the Arizona Cardinals (6-7).

–Field Level Media

Baseball Winter Meetings Update

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DALLAS – Super agent Scott Boras negotiated another record-breaking contract as one of his star clients, Juan Soto, reached an agreement with the New York Mets on a 15-year, $765 million deal.

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Boras declined to comment Wednesday on the historic deal involving Soto, who is undergoing his physical before it becomes official. However, Boras did talk about the Mets in general, commending their aggressive pursuit of building a championship-caliber organization after their run to the National League Championship Series last season.

“I think it’s pretty evident that the Mets have decided that they’re going to pursue winning and winning for a long time,” Boras said. “They’ve made it very clear to us that they’re not limited to signing one great player but multiple great players. They’re going to be, I think, a very steady and heavy commitment to acquiring the best talent.”

That was among the many notable comments made by Boras as he held court with reporters on Day 3 of the winter meetings at the Hilton Anatole.

Beyond Soto, Boras’ list of free agents this offseason includes infielders Pete Alonso and Alex Bregman, right-hander Corbin Burnes and left-hander Sean Manaea.

“A lot of market locomotion regarding Pete,” Boras said. “The Polar Bear Express is rolling.”

Boras added that Alonso is open to listening to a lot of teams.

“Certainly his experiences with the Mets were extraordinary, both for them and him,” Boras said.

Boras also shared his thoughts on his other clients.

“We’ve had numerous meetings with teams and owners. We all know what comes after AB, that is the ‘C’ in champions. In Bregman’s case, that is ‘C’ squared,” Boras said. “All of these teams realize what a leader he is, what a champion he is and plus his skill level to boot. So, he’s had a remarkable career to date and is very much in demand.”

On Burnes: “For pitching, for Corbin Burnes, it’s kind of like Elvis. He’s got that ‘Burnes-ing Love’ for a No. 1 starter. You are really feeling it today, and very early this morning for me, I might add.”

On Manaea: “There is a new Sean rising. It’s something that teams have recognized. The demand is really something that I think is going to happen soon.”

Hamilton to Baseball Hall

Cleveland Guardians longtime radio announcer Tom Hamilton was selected as the 2025 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually for excellence in broadcasting by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Hamilton started calling games for the Guardians in 1990.

–Drew Davison, Field Level Media