The catch was the hard part for Talanoa Hufanga. It bobbled as it hit his hands, nearly cratering toward the ground.

But the 49ers safety was calm as the ball squirmed in his grasp. And once he got a solid grip on it, everything else was relatively easy.

Hufanga’s pick six was the standout moment of a lively night at Levi’s Stadium. DeMeco Ryans’ defensive corps locked down Stafford and company, giving up just nine points en route to a comfortable victory on “Monday Night Football.”

Hufanga read this play like a book πŸ“• pic.twitter.com/zIGGpfWPes

β€” 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) October 4, 2022

It was a clash between two of the best defenses in football. And neither unit disappointed early, giving up just 10 points combined in the first quarter.

For all of Los Angeles’ talent, though, it just couldn’t stop the big play. Whether it was Jeff Wilson Jr. or Deebo Samuel, it seemed like whenever the Niners’ needed huge chunks of yardage, they got them.

San Francisco, on the other hand, proved stout. Cooper Kupp got his touches, as did tight end Tyler Higbee. But on the whole, Stafford and the Rams were ineffective, failing to find the end zone while showing a real inability to put the ball on the ground.

Much of that was due to San Fran’s stout defensive line. With seven sacks, roughly a dozen tackles for losses and countless QB hurries, it was a rough night for all those in the white and gold. Niner’s fans didn’t mind too much.

The Sporting News tracked live updates and highlights from Rams vs. 49ers. Below are the results as they happened on Monday night.

MORE: Watch NFL games live with fuboTV (free trial)

Rams vs 49ers score

1 2 3 4 f
rams 3 3 3 0 9
49ers 7 7 0 10 24

Rams vs. 49ers live updates, highlights from ‘Sunday Night Football’

(All times Eastern)

End of fourth quarter – 49ers 24, Rams 9

10:52pm: FUMBLE! Ebukam gets his hands to Stafford once again, jarring the ball loose. The fumble ends up in the Niners’ hands, effectively putting this one on ice.

the @49ers defense forces a turnover! They simply can’t stop making plays.

πŸ“Ί: #LARvsSF on ESPN
πŸ“±: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/keYveuhX3P pic.twitter.com/SCP82FprTs

β€” NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2022

10:49pm: Stafford nearly throws another dime into the 49ers grasp. However, the ball slipped through Fred Warner’s hands.

10:48pm: The Rams keep themselves alive with a 13 yard gain from Kupp on fourth down. 2:02 left for them to rally.

10:44pm: BAG! Hassan Ridgeway takes Stafford down behind the line of scrimmage. That’s the Niners fifth sack of the night. They are tearing LA’s offensive line to shreds.

10:37pm: PICK SIX! Talanoa Hufanga breaks up Stafford’s screen pass to Kupp, taking it 52 yards to the house. That might be the death knell for Los Angeles, which just hasn’t been up to the races today.

TZZ UP FOR BIG HUF

First career pick 6 for @TalanoaHufanga!

πŸ“Ί #LARvsSF on @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/GmfWfvTjq6

β€” San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 4, 2022

49ers 24, Rams 9

10:35pm: Higbee with another big catch past the first down marker. He and Kupp have pretty much provided the whole of the Rams offense tonight β€” they’ve combined for 150 of Stafford’s 176 passing yards.

10:32pm: Huge miss from Gould on a 42 yard field goal attempt. He pulled it wide. Los Angeles is still in this. The Rams have a little over eight minutes to mount a comeback.

10:29pm: Deebo with another huge play! 29 yards on the screen. Samuel has six catches for 115 yards and a touchdown today. One of the league’s most exciting players putting on a real show tonight.

10:23pm: The Rams’ offense is finding it difficult to do much of anything tonight. That’s another three-and-out for the Niners’ defense, which has held tight all day.

Oh, and McCloud sliced ​​through Los Angeles’ punt team for a 22 yard gain. It goes from bad to worse for the Rams, who desperately need a stop to stay within striking distance.

10:17 pm: FIELD GOAL! Shanahan takes the conservative approach, putting his faith in San Fran’s defense to shut the door. Robbie Gould steps up and hits a chip shot field goal, extending the Niners’ lead to eight.

10:15pm: Sooooo close from George Kittle. Garoppolo throws a dart into the Pro Bowl TE, who snags it beautifully. However, on further examination, Kittle couldn’t get his second foot down in time. It will be fourth down. Kyle Shanahan has a decision to make.

End of third quarter – 49ers 14, Rams 9

10:11pm: …Not if Bobby Wagner has anything to say about it, though. The six-time All Pro linebacker stops Deebo and Wilson on back-to-back plays, holding them up as they looked to get another tuddy. That will end the third quarter. Rams desperately need a goal-line stand here.

10:10pm: Juz with another impressive play, taking a handoff misdirection and juking outside the tackles for the first. The 49ers might be on the brink of another TD…

10:07pm: The first play of the drive is a big one! Kyle Juszczyk fields a catch on the right sideline and trudges 35 yards down the field as cheers of “JUUUUUZ” swirl around Levi’s Stadium. Got to love it.

10:06pm: FUMBLE! Jordan Fuller knocks the ball out of Ray-Ray McCloud’s grasp on the kick return. However, it falls into the path of a 49ers player. Phew.

10:03pm: FIELD GOALS! Stafford should have been picked off after missing an open Higbee on the slant. He got fortunate that the ball dropped to the turf, but it represents another missed opportunity for Los Angeles, who has to settle for a Gay chip shot.

49ers 14, Rams 9

10:01pm: Charvarius Ward with a huge deflection, denying Allen Robinson an easy touchdown grab. San Francisco is stepping it up when its backs are against the wall.

10:00 p.m.: Kupp finds space behind the tackles on a screen play, gaining 14 yards in the process. Los Angeles is on the doorstep of the end zone.

9:58pm: BAG! 49ers put Stafford on his back once more, their fourth sack of the day. That’s one way to limit the effectiveness of the passing game.

9:57pm: FIRST DOWN! Cam Akers skips through the tackles to get a handful of yards, good enough to move the chains on fourth down. Los Angeles is approaching the red zone.

9:54pm: Slowly but surely, Los Angeles is getting into rhythm. Stafford is 5/6 for 51 yards in the Rams’ first drive of the second half. They’re inside the 50 and Kupp is getting major targets at the moment β€” he’s got 10 catches already.

9:52pm: It must be said: San Fran is bringing the heat on blitzes. The Niners have sent the cavalry over 30% of Stafford’s drop backs, resulting in three sacks. Speeding up his clock and limiting his options. Seems they’ve keyed in on LA’s lack of depth up front.

9:48pm: A quick first drive of the second half ends in a punt for the Niners. Let’s see if the Rams can finally get their offense on track.

End of second quarter – 49ers 14, Rams 6

9:26 pm: SACK(S)! The 49ers firmed up second and third down, sending Stafford to the canvas on back-to-back plays. Another Rams punt is looming.

9:25pm: When you need a big play, call Kupp. The All-Pro wideout turns a precise curl route into a first. Big play given how languid Los Angeles’ offense has been (excluding Kupp and Higbee) so far.

9:18pm: TOUCHDOWN! What a play by Deebo Samuel! He stretches to grab an errant Garoppolo throw, dekes past a defender, takes it down the right sideline and runs over Jalen Ramsey on his way to pay dirt. 57 yards to the house in the blink of an eye.

DEEBO WHAT RUNNINNNNN @19problemz

πŸ“Ί #LARvsSF on @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/ca842lL7ZJ

β€” San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 4, 2022

49ers 14, Rams 6

9:15pm: Jimmy G making plays with his legs, who would’ve thought? Garoppolo scrambles for five, moving the chains on third down.

9:10pm: FIELD GOAL! San Fran’s defense holds inside the red zone. All the 49ers can pattern is another three points from Gay.

49ers 7, Rams 6

9:06pm: Another snag for tight end Tyler Higbee, his fifth of the game. Rams getting into a bit of a groove on offense; they’re just outside the red zone.

9:05pm: Kevin Givens whistled for an encroachment call that gave the Rams an automatic first down. Not what you want to see from the nose tackle if you’re a SF fan.

9:01pm: Jimmy G just misses a pair of throws to open receivers Warner and Jennings as the Niners’ drive flames out. The ball is headed back to LA

8:57pm: Deommodore Lenoir locks down Kupp on third down, forcing Stafford into an errant throw into the sidelines. Wonderful bit of play by the 22-year old, who has really started to come into his own this year.

Another punt looming for LA

8:52pm: Jennings with a vital drop on third down to end San Fran’s threat. Looks the ball is headed back to LA

8:50pm: Garoppolo and the Niners doing a good job early of cutting through Los Angeles’ coverage. Another first down, this time via an Aiyuk catch and dash on the screen play.

End of first quarter – 49ers 7, Rams 3

8:46pm: Garoppolo starts drive two with another smooth feed to Samuel, who gets past the first down marker.

Jimmy G and Deebo linking up well early.

8:42 pm: SACK! Nick Bosa does what Nick Bosa does, slamming Stafford into the ground for the sack. That’s his fifth sack of the year and it forces LA to punt the ball away. Boom.

8:37pm: TOUCH DOWN! Jeff Wilson finds a lane behind tight end Charlie Warner and takes it into the house to give San Fran the lead. Perfect start.

U Can’t Touch This!

El Jefe to the house 🏠

πŸ“Ί #LARvsSF on @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/xgiUIMBghu

β€” San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 4, 2022

49ers 7, Rams 3

8:31pm: Jauan Jennings uses Deebo Samuel’s gravity to grab the first down. With the Rams keying in on Samuel in their coverage, Jennings finds some space and gets to the first down marker.

8:29pm: Jimmy Garoppolo starts the 49ers first offensive series with a nice throw to Brandon Aiyuk for the first down.

8:25 pm: FIELD GOAL! Ebukam’s sack was the difference, forcing the Rams into a field goal. Matt Gay splits the uprights from 39 yards out to give Los Angeles the lead.

Rams 3, 49ers 0

8:23pm: SACK! Samson Ebukam with a huge sack on second down to hasten the Rams’ progress. That will do wonders for San Fran.

8:19pm: Another Kupp grab, another first down for Los Angeles. Have the feeling this could be a trend tonight.

8:18pm: Cooper Kupp getting a healthy diet of targets early. Already has snagged two catches for first downs on this drive. Rams just past midfield.

8:16pm: The ball is kicked off and the game is off and running! Matthew Stafford leading the Rams on the field.

8:05pm: Jerry Rice is in the house! That’s got to give the Niners wideouts some extra motivation to perform.

.@JerryRice in the house to support the Niners 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/KSKBjSr9wU

β€” NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 3, 2022

Rams vs 49ers start time

  • dates: Monday, Oct. 3
  • Time: 8:15pm ET

Rams vs. 49ers will kick off at 8:15 pm from Levi’s Stadium in San Francisco, California.

What channel is Rams vs 49ers on tonight?

Monday’s game will be broadcast on ESPN. Joe Buck will handle play-by-play duties, while Troy Aikman will feature as the game’s color commentator. Lisa Salters will provide occasional updates from the sideline.

Cord-cutters can find Monday’s game on ESPN+, as well as fuboTVwhich offers a free trial.

Canadian viewers can watch Monday’s game on DAZN with a subscription.