Rams starting receivers come up big in victory

The Rams spent a considerable amount of cash and made a gutsy trade before the season to upgrade their receiving corps.

The transactions paid dividends Thursday night in a 41-39 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, as Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins each finished with more than 100 yards receiving at Levi’s Stadium.

It was the first time since 2006 that two Rams players passed the 100-yard receiving mark.

“We were just out there playing,” Woods said after the game. “I didn’t know numbers, or whatever. We were just going out there making plays, just doing our assignments and the ball was finding us.”

Coach Sean McVay said Woods and Watkins are getting more comfortable with quarterback Jared Goff.

“And they’re getting more comfortable with what we’re trying to get done offensively,” McVay said.

Goff passed for 292 yards and three touchdowns as the Rams improved to 2-1 and the 49ers fell to 0-3.

“Those guys have been tremendous since they got here,” Goff said about Woods and Watkins. “Getting a chance to see it come alive today was huge.”

Woods, a fifth-year pro, signed a five-year, $34-million free-agent contract last March.

On Thursday, he bounced back from a penalty-ridden performance in a loss to the Washington Redskins, and caught six passes for a team-best 108 yards.

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Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald sacks 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer on fourth down late in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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The Rams’ John Johnson (43) is pushed away from the ball as the 49ers’ Raheem Mostert (31) recovers an onside kick late in the fourth quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers catches a deflected pass to break up a two-point conversion play by the 49ers that could have tied the score late in the fourth quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers is upended after catching a deflected pass on the 49ers two-points conversion try that could have tied the score late in the fourth quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams receiver Sammy Watkins lunges toward the goal line to score a touchdown against the 49ers during the fourth quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Coach Sean McVay celebrates after the Rams scored a touchdown during the third quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams receiver Robert Woods breaks free from 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman after a reception on Sept. 21.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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49ers receiver Pierre Garcon makes a catch in front of Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara on Sept. 21.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams receiver Sammy Watkins picks up big yards against the 49ers defense in the third quarter on Sept. 21.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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49ers receiver Marquise Goodwin makes a reception in front of Rams defensive backs Nikell Robey-Coleman and Maurice Alexander (31) during the third quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams quarterback Jared Goff scrambles away from pressure during the second quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams running back Todd Gurley beats 49ers linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong to the end zone for a touchdown during the first quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams quarterback Jared Goff completes a pass while under pressure from 49ers defensive lienman Arik Armstead.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman (23) celebrates his interception that set up the Rams’ first score in the first quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Rams running back Todd Gurley eludes the tackle of 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson to score a touchdown during the second quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Woods made a notable highlight-reel catch down the sideline early in the game, then later managed to pop up after he took a hit short of the goal line.

“It was a whole new week, a short week, which was good,” Woods said. “Got a chance to redeem ourselves, get a win and the biggest thing was just to come out here and play fast, put up some points and catch the ball.”

Watkins finished the game on the sideline as he was evaluated for a concussion, but it wasn’t before he established himself as the deep threat the Rams sought when they acquired him in a trade with Buffalo during training camp.

Watkins, targeted only twice last Sunday, caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns against the 49ers. In the third quarter he made an impressive 47-yard over-the-shoulder catch between two defenders.

“On that deep ball, it’s something we’ve worked on for a long time now and for him to make that play, it’s huge,” Goff said. “There’s a reason we went and got him and that’s one of the main reasons.”

lindsey.thiry@latimes.com

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