7 winners and 5 losers in Rams 2nd consecutive win over tumbling 49ers

(2) - Winner: PR/WR Xavier Smith

LA Rams reserve wide receiver Xavier Smith was not supposed to be in this position for the 2024 NFL season. But he has taken the reins of his own destiny, put up a sensational training camp. He followed that up with a spectacular preseason. And then when the Rams needed a miracle, he hand delivered one to put the team into perfect position to drive down for the game-winning field goal with time running out.

Shockingly, he did all of that by touching the football just once all season. In fact, he only touched the football with under two minutes remaining on the game clock.

The Rams defense surprisingly forced the San Francisco 49ers to punt the football to the Rams. And when Xavier Smith fielded the football cleanly at his own 12-yard line, I truly expected the offense to take over needing to drive the length of the football field.

But Xavier Smith had other ideas.

He sidestepped a would-be tackler, and then raced to daylight. Daylight lasted for 38 yards, until Smith was forced out of bounds at the 50-yard line. The play not only resuscitated the hopes for a win. Xavier Smith's return was enough to propel the team into the driver's seat of a game in which they had been sitting in the far back of the bus.

He only touched that football once. But wow, he delivered a huge play when the team needed a spark.