49ers… 17 Rams… 16

ST. LOUIS -- It was the kind of simple catch Dante Hall has made many times, camped under a punt, waiting to make the catch.

This time, late in the fourth quarter Sunday, he dropped it. Marcus Hudson recovered for San Francisco, setting up the winning field goal in the 49ers’ 17-16 win over St. Louis.

Jeff Wilkins missed a 56-yard field-goal try with 59 seconds to play, the ball falling about a yard short as the Rams fell to 0-2.

The 49ers (2-0) won despite struggling offensively most of the game. St. Louis had 392 total yards to 186 for San Francisco. Alex Smith was 11 for 17 for 126 yards passing. Frank Gore scored two touchdowns and gained 81 yards in 20 carries.

Hall, a two-time Pro Bowl return man acquired in an off-season trade with Kansas City, appeared to have an easy catch on Andy Lee’s kick, but the ball went through his hands, setting up Joe Nedney’s 40-yard field goal with 3:28 to play.

Quoteworthy: “It was frustrating. I was just trying to make a play. I should have just fair-caught it.” -- Dante Hall, Rams returner, on his dropped punt