Santa Clara — In any other match, this would have been a defeat.
round. A convincing answer to a previous defeat.
But that’s the Rams and the San Francisco 49ers.
More specifically, Rams coach Sean McVay and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.
Close games are the rule, not the exception.
So the Rams’ three-goal lead early in the second quarter Sunday at Levi’s Stadium was no comfort.
The 49ers pulled within seven points before the Rams pulled away for 42-26 The win extended their winning streak to four matches.
Matthew Stafford passed for four touchdowns, Kyren Williams ran for two, linebacker Nate Landman forced another fumble and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. intercepted a pass for the second straight game as the Rams improved to 7-2 and 1-1 in the NFC West.
After defeating the Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and 49ers, the Rams will play with confidence when they host the Seattle Seahawks next Sunday in a battle for the top spot in the NFC West at SoFi Stadium.
Stafford continued to play at an MVP level, throwing touchdown passes to receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams and tight ends Davis Allen and Colby Parkinson as the Rams avenged their 26-23 overtime loss to the 49ers in Week 5.
Stafford, who completed 24 of 36 passes for 280 yards, passed for a league-best 25 touchdowns, with just two interceptions. Stafford has passed for 13 touchdowns in the last three games and has had no passes intercepted in six games, the longest of his 17-year career.
Nacua returned from a rib injury that sidelined him for part of the Rams’ win over the New Orleans Saints and caught five passes for 64 yards.
Adams, who grew up not far from East Palo Alto, suffered a back injury in the second half and did not return. But the three-time All-Pro caught six passes for 77 yards and continued his standout play in the red zone with his sixth touchdown in the last three games. His nine touchdown catches lead the NFL.
Williams, who rushed for more than 100 yards for the first time this season against the Saints, had 73 yards on Sunday, with Blake Corum adding 56.
Landman continued his mastery of knocking the ball out of the opponents’ grip. A fumble he forced in the first quarter led to a touchdown. Forbes’ interception in the fourth quarter led to the Rams’ final touchdown.
The Rams’ fumble kicking game also played error-free.
Kicker Harrison Mewis, who replaced Joshua Carty, did not attempt a field goal but made all six of his extra point attempts on a kicking operation that now included veteran long snapper Jake McQuaid.
The Rams on Sunday also continued their trend of quick starts.
They took a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter on a two-yard Williams touchdown run and Stafford touchdown passes to Nacua and Allen.
With about three minutes left in the first half, Mac Jones’ six-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Jennings cut the lead to 14 points.
The 49ers cut it to seven early in the third quarter on a one-yard Brian Robinson Jr. run. But the Rams responded with a drive that ended with Stafford’s two-yard touchdown pass to Adams.
The 49ers kept the pressure on with a fourth-quarter touchdown catch by tight end Luke Farrell, but Jared Fiers blocked the extra point attempt to preserve the Rams’ eight-point lead.
The Rams responded with Williams’ second touchdown with about 10 minutes left in the game, and Forbes’ interception set up Stafford’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Parkinson.
The 49ers added a late 13-yard touchdown run by tight end George Kittle.
Landman, safety Quentin Lake and linebacker Omar Speights each had 11 tackles for the Rams.