It's over. LA Rams end embarrassing losing streak to 49ers on QB Wentz's legs and arm

How well did Wentz perform in Week 18?

By all rights, judging Rams backup quarterback early in this game has to be viewed with a bit of skepticism. Everyone on the face of the earth knew that the Rams wanted to get the football to rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua to get him his rookie receiving records and then to sit him for the rest of the game. The problem with that strategy is that the San Francisco 49ers secondary knew that would be the case, and blanketed Nacua with two defensive backs throughout the game.

By the end of the game, the Rams' new backup quarterback was not exactly pushing for Pro Bowl honors. But the Rams did not need him to set any single-game passing records. Wentz did not. Instead, Wentz was cooly efficient in a Rams offense, completing 17 of 24 passes for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. But that interception occured after the pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and was not an errant throw.

Where Wentz truly flexed in the Rams offense was his ability to run with the football. By the end of the game, Wentz had rushed 17 times for 56 yards and a touchdown. One of the weaknesses of the San Francisco 49ers defense is their vulnerability to a dual-threat quarterback, one that can move the chains by running with the football as well as pass the football.

The Rams gameplan clearly leveraged that Achilles Heel of the 49ers defense, putting Wentz into position to make plays with either his arm or his legs. And that allowed the Rams to score the game winning touchdown via a Carson Wentz 12 yard run for a touchdown, setting up the two-point conversion pass to WR Tutu Atwell to win the game

So the Rams offense was ultra predictable early. But after Puka Nacua sat out the rest of the game, the entire Rams team seemed to find its second wind. The LA Rams scored the final 14 points of the game, the only points scored in the second half of this game. But you can thank the Rams defense.