Rams lose to 49ers by giving up last-minute TD and two-point conversion

In a season of bad endings for the Rams, this one might have been the worst.

Leading by 14 points early in the fourth quarter, the Rams gave up two touchdowns — and a two-point conversion with 31 seconds left — in a 22-21 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday at the Coliseum.

The Rams lost for the 10th time in their last 11 games and fell to 4-11.

The 49ers improved to 2-13, their only victories coming against the Rams. They shut out the Rams, 28-0, in the season opener.

On Saturday, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick led his team to two clutch drives and also ran the ball in for the decisive two-point conversion.

The Rams led, 14-7, at halftime, and appeared to take control in the fourth quarter after cornerback E.J. Gaines forced running back Carlos Hyde to fumble after catching a pass. Defensive lineman Morgan Fox recovered the ball at the 25-yard line.

A pass interference penalty against the 49ers moved the ball to the nine, and Jared Goff fired a short touchdown pass to rookie tight end Tyler Higbee for a 21-7 lead.

But Kaepernick’s 13-yard scramble for a touchdown pulled the 49ers to within a touchdown with about five minutes left.

The Rams then went three and out, and the 49ers took over at their 27.

Kaepernick masterfully drove his team down the field, connecting with receiver Rod Streater for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds left to pull the 49ers to within 21-20. Kaepernick then scrambled and dove into the end zone for the winning points.

The Rams’ hopes for a possible game-winning field goal ended when Rashard Robinson intercepted Goff’s pass.

Kaepernick completed 28 of 38 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.

Goff completed 11 of 24 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions.

Running back Todd Gurley rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown in 23 carries.

The Rams overcame an early deficit to lead, 14-7, at halftime.

The 49ers went ahead early after cornerback Tramaine Brock intercepted a Goff pass on the Rams’ first possession.

The turnover set up Kaepernick’s 19-yard touchdown pass to Hyde.

On the Rams’ next possession, they drove to the 49ers’ 30-yard line and faced fourth down. Interim Coach John Fassel went for it, and Goff completed a 24-yard pass to tight end Lance Kendricks. Two plays later, Gurley ran for a on-yard touchdown to tie the score.

The Rams kept the momentum when safety Cody Davis intercepted a Kaepernick pass and returned it 29 yards to the 30.

The Rams wasted no time capitalizing. Goff handed off to Austin on a fly sweep from right to left, and Austin kept his feet inbounds along the left sideline and got inside the pylon for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead.

Rashard Robinson intercepted a pass by Jared Goff, then the 49ers took a knee before punting and defeating the Rams, 22-21.

It was a complete implosion for the Rams, who held a 21-7 lead until the final 5:06 of the game.

The Rams fall to 4-11 and the 49ers improve to 2-13. Their two victories are against the Rams.

Pharoh Cooper returned the ensuing kickoff 24 yards after the late 49ers score to give the Rams good field position to try to get into field-goal range.

But Goff’s first-down pass fell incomplete and his second-down pass was intercepted.

The Rams just imploded and will have 31 seconds to dig themselves out of a hole.

Colin Kaepernick completed a 10-yard pass to Rod Streater for a touchdown and Coach Chip Kelly elected to go for a two-point conversion.

The 49ers converted on a Kaepernick keeper to take the lead, 22-21. The scoring drive covered 73 yards in 10 plays and took 2:39.

The 49ers managed to dig themselves out of another self-inflicted hole, with a false start on the first play, then caught a break from the Rams a few downs later when Cody Davis was called for a personal foul after an incomplete pass.

Kaepernick played out of his mind in the series, completing passes of 12, 11, nine, two, seven and 10 yards.

The Rams defense, which played so stout through 3 1/2 quarters, went silently into the night.

The 49ers fans chanted “defense” loud and clear. Defense is what their team gave them.

The Rams went three and out after Todd Gurley rushed for five yards in consecutive carries and Jared Goff was sacked — for the fourth time — on third down.

The 49ers now have a chance to tie the game and will start from their 27-yard line.

This game just got intereseting.

With 5:06 remaining, Colin Kaepernick scrambled 13 yards for a touchdown but the Rams still lead the 49ers, 21-14. The scoring drive covered 75 yards in 13 plays and took 5:26.

The 49ers did all they could to set themselves back by committing two consecutive penalties, but they managed to dig themselves out of a first-and-25 hole.

Kaepernick completed a 13-yard pass and then a seven-yard pass on fourth-and-seven to set up the touchdown run.

Morgan Fox recovered a fumble and the Rams’ converted the turnover into a touchdown.

Jared Goff threw a dart to Tyler Higbee for a two-yard touchdown on third down. The Rams lead the 49ers, 21-7, in the fourth quarter.

Carlos Hyde caught a short pass before E.J Gaines hit him hard, forcing the fumble. Fox recovered at the 49ers’ 25-yard line.

The Rams’ four-play, 25-yard drive was aided by a pass interference penalty called against the 49ers on a throw to Lance Kendricks.

That set up first-and-goal.

Todd Gurley rushed for seven yards in consecutive carries before the touchdown pass.

Gurley has rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown in 21 carries.

Hyde is questionable to return because of a knee injury.

How the Rams have been unable to move the football against the NFL’s worst defense in the second half is a bit unfathomable.

Todd Gurley rushed for 15 yards in three carries and gained six yards on a short pass.

Jared Goff was sacked on third down. Goff has been sacked three times.

Johnny Hekker punted for a seventh consecutive series.

Tackle Rob Havenstein was injured during the drive.

Kenny Britt has been downgraded to out because of a shoulder injury.

The way the 49ers’ started the series, it looked like they might tie the game.

That ended quickly, though.

Aaron Donald sacked Colin Kaepernick on third down and once again the defensive line celebrated so hard that Dominique Easley fell over in joy.

Rod Streater caught a 17-yard pass on the first play before a false start set the 49ers back. Easley tackled Carlos Hyde for a two-yard loss and then Jeremy Kerley caught a 12-yard pass.

This game has become nearly unwatchable.

But don’t worry, I’m still watching it for you.

The Rams went three-and-out, simple enough.

Johnny Hekker punted for a sixth consecutive series.

The 49ers’ offense is almost as insufferable as the Rams.

The team did, after all, rank 29th in the NFL coming into the game. The Rams’ ranked 32nd, also known as last.

The 49ers went three-and-out and punted for a sixth consecutive series.

Johnny Hekker, the man of the day.

Hekker punted for a fifth consecutive series. He set the NFL record earlier in the game for most punts down inside the 20-yard line with 47.

The offense, big surprise, went three-and-out.

Kenny Britt is questionable to return because of a shoulder injury.

The Rams’ defense continues to play tough.

The 49ers went three-and-out, including a penalty for tripping, and punted for a fifth consecutive series.

The Rams have held them to 149 yards of offense (Though they’ve only been able to gain 155 yards themselves).

Colin Kaepernick has completed 11 of 15 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.

The NFL’s worst defense is now outplaying the league’s worst offense.

Johnny Hekker punted for a fourth consecutive series.

The Rams went three-and-out, until the 49ers were called for a personal foul when a defensive back shoved Kenny Britt in the face.

The free first down served little help, though, as Hekker punted after three plays that went nowhere.

For a little comic relief in the series, the Rams were called for a false start and the official said: “False start, everyone but the center.”

This game definitely hit a lull in the second quarter.

Jared Goff took a knee to end the half after the 49ers went three-and-out and punted.

Shaun Draughn rushed for nine yards in three carries.

The Rams offense has been stagnant since the first quarter.

Johnny Hekker punted another ball inside the Rams’ 20-yard line.

Todd Gurley rushed for 13 yards in two carries, Lance Kendricks caught a six-yard pass and then Jared Goff’s third-down pass was knocked down at the line of scrimmage.

The 49ers will have 38 seconds to try to score some points before halftime.

E.J. Gaines tackled Aaron Burbridge — hard — after he caught two-yard pass, short of a first down and the 49ers punted for a fourth time.

The Rams’ defense, as it has most of the season, came to play.

Carlos Hyde rushed 13 yards in three carries.

Colin Kaepernick completed passes for 13 yards and nine yards.

A Rams punt resulted in history for Johnny Hekker, who now holds the NFL record for punts inside the 20-yard line with 47.

The Rams followed the 49ers’ three-and-out with one of their own.

Tyler Higbee caught a three-yard pass, Malcolm Brown rushed for two yards and then Jared Goff’s third-down pass — intended for Tavon Austin — sailed out of bounds.

If only Jeff Fisher were here to see Hekker’s historic moment.

The 49ers went three and out and punted for a third time.

Eugene Sims tackled Colin Kaepernick after he gained three yards in the first play. Then Carlos Hyde was tackled at the line of scrimmage by William Hayes, and Kaepernick’s third-down pass was dropped.

Jared Goff is taking a beating again today.

In five plays, he was hit twice — hard. The Rams punted.

Todd Gurley caught a nine-yard pass and then was tackled for a five-yard loss on the next play because of a blitz.

Goff’s third-down pass slipped through the fingertips of Tavon Austin. The throw appeared a bit high.

Dominique Easley sacked Colin Kaepernick on third down, and the defensive line celebrated so joyously that one of them fell to the ground.

The defense has held the 49ers to 81 total yards.

Carlos Hyde has rushed for 24 yards in five carries.

There have been two Rams touchdowns in the first quarter and that is not a typo.

It appears the Rams’ league-worst offense is better than the 49ers’ league-worst defense.

Cody Davis intercepted Colin Kaepernick and returned it 29 yards to the 49ers’ 30-yard line. One play later, Tavon Austin rushed 30 yards up the Rams’ sideline for a touchdown.

The Rams lead the 49ers, 14-7, with 2:33 remaining in the first quarter.

The Rams have scored a touchdown!

Lance Kendricks caught a 24-yard pass on fourth down to setup a Todd Gurley run into the end zone. Gurley rushed one yard for the touchdown.

The game is tied, 7-7, with 4:07 remaining in the first quarter. The scoring drive covered 52 yards in nine plays and took 4:54.

Gurley, against the NFL’s worst defense, has rushed for 25 yards in seven carries.

Jared Goff has completed four of seven passes for 59 yards, with an interception. Goff clearly learned from the blistering hit he took from Richard Sherman last week. Ahmad Brooks hurried Goff out of bounds for a two-yard loss, but the rookie quarterback took a hard hit a few plays later as he got a pass out.

On a 15-yard completion to Tavon Austin on third and 11, Goff also showed really nice footwork in the pocket and avoided two tackles.

Rookie Pharoh Cooper returned the ball 51 yards on the kickoff.

Tramaine Brock intercepted Jared Goff, and the 49ers converted the turnover into a touchdown.

The Coliseum erupted in cheers because it’s half-full of 49ers’ fans.

The 49ers lead the Rams, 7-0, with 9:01 remaining in the first quarter. The scoring drive covered 17 yards in two plays and took 37 seconds.

Brock returned the pick 38 yards. It was Goff’s sixth interception this season.

Prior to the pick, Todd Gurley rushed for 15 yards in three carries, and Kenny Britt caught a 15-yard pass on third and six, which he fumbled out of bounds.

The Coliseum is half-full and appears to be split 50-50 between Rams and 49ers fans, but the crowd broke into a dull roar as Eugene Sims sacked Colin Kaepernick on third down, forcing the 49ers to punt.

Kaepernick completed two of four passes for 13 yards.

Carlos Hyde rushed for 14 yards.

In other news, the San Diego Chargers lost, 20-17, to the Cleveland Browns, giving the Browns their first win of the season. It really will be something if Los Angeles ends up with both the Rams and the Chargers in town. Not a lot of exciting football.

Join beat reporter Gary Klein and Lindsey Thiry from the Coliseum sideline before the Rams and 49ers kickoff.

Here is a look of the Rams’ throwback uniforms, which can be worn twice a year. Fans are clamoring for them to make a full-time return.

The Rams also wore the throwbacks in the Coliseum home opener against the Seattle Seahawks.

There was heavy rainfall in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon into early Saturday morning, but the Coliseum grass appears to be in good playing condition.

Tarps were laid over the playing surface last night and were taken off this morning a few hours prior to warm-ups.

The sideline, however, is a soggy mess from runoff.

Rams’ inactive players:

Receiver Michael Thomas

Quarterback Case Keenum

Defensive back Lamarcus Joyner

Safety Maurice Alexander

Guard Cody Wichmann

Tackle Greg Robinson

Defensive end Matt Longacre

49ers’ inactive players:

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert

Running back Mike Davis

Cornerback Dontae Johnson

Center Marcus Martin

Tackle Joe Staley

Defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey

Linebacker Tank Carradine

The most-asked question every week is, “When are the Rams wearing their throwback uniforms?”

Happy holidays, my friends, because you get your gift on Saturday.

The Rams are wearing their blue-and-yellow uniforms, and the end zones also are painted blue and yellow.

Throwback uniforms, per NFL rules, can be worn twice a season. The Rams wore their throwbacks in their regular-season Coliseum debut against the Seattle Seahawks.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday greenlighted the first of several large cranes to be used to help construct the $2.6-billion stadium for the Rams in Inglewood.

The two Liebherr LR 1300 cranes will stand 195 feet and 228 feet, respectively, above the 298-acre site, according to the FAA, which determined that they won’t pose a hazard to air navigation. They’ll be used to install pilings for the stadium’s foundation.

Developers formally broke ground on the stadium last month after about a year and a half of site preparation and infrastructure work. The venue is expected to be completed in 2019.

Gerard McCallum II, project manager for the Hollywood Park Land Co., said the work is on schedule.

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(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Rams players got a short history lesson this week when interim Coach John Fassel explained some of the narrative surrounding the Los Angeles franchise’s rivalry with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Rams will wear a part of that tradition when they don throwback uniforms for Saturday’s game at the Coliseum.

But there are few, if any, other earmarks of the days when the Rams and 49ers battled for supremacy in the NFC West.

The Rams are 4-10 in their return to Los Angeles. The 49ers are 1-13.

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(John Cordes / Associated Press)

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald continues to pile up fines for penalties.

The three-time Pro Bowl selection was fined more than $42,000 for infractions in last week’s 24-3 loss at Seattle.

Donald was fined $18,231 for unnecessary roughness and $24,309 for unsportsmanlike conduct after he threw a penalty flag at an official.

Donald was fined more than $18,000 for unnecessary roughness in the Rams’ Oct. 16 loss at Detroit.

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