LA Rams miraculous victory stuns 49ers and NFL fans with most unlikely heroes.

Ah the sweet taste of victory. For just the first win of the season for the LA Rams 2024 NFL season, this one is particularly sweet. You see, it was a win against the Rams NFC West Division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers. And that, Rams fans, extends the Rams winning streak against the 49ers to two games. It may not sound like much, but it's a start.

All this team needed was a spark. Someone needed to step up and play up to the bigger stage, the brighter lights, and the intense pressure of trying to get any type of win.

Well, the team landed a whopper of a win in Week 3. It was just one win, but it rewarded all of the elements that we have pleaded for. And it was not the win that was so satisfying. It was the way that this team won the game. When the team needed to run the football, they did. The Rams made three of five red zone appearances. Of course, you can thank RB Kyren Williams for that. He scored all three of the Rams touchdowns.

And yet, the announcers only had kind praise for 49ers WR Jauan Jennings, who also scored three TDs in the game. So who do the Rams have to thank for this win?

Look out for the little guys

The Rams have a little guy standing tall in this victory. In fact, whether on the ground, through the air, or even on special teams, the Rams could count on little players to have a big game.

Special Teams got a huge boost from PS WR Xavier Smith. Smith stands 5-foot-9 and weighs just 176 pounds. He only touched the football once, but he certainly made it count. He handled a punt with 55 seconds remaining on the game clock from his own 12-yard line, and returned in 38 yards to the 50-yard line. That play was perhaps the most impactful, as it converted an almost certain overtime into a chance to make a game winning drive to kick a field goal. The Rams did drive the football. The Rams did kick the game winning field goal.

The Rams rushing offense was very effective in this one. Led by 5-foot-9 202-pound running back, the offense was able to run the football when it counted the most. The Rams ran 26 times, which was often enough to keep defenders honest, and put up 98 yards. Most importantly, the team was able to run for two touchdowns. While not a dominant ground attack, it certainly was efficient enough to keep the team in the game,

The Rams aerial attack was spearheaded by none other than 5-foot-9 165-pound wide receiver Tutu Atwell. Atwell hauled in four of five passes for 93 yards, including a 50-yard bomb that placed the Rams into position to put up the tying score. While ultimately ruled incomplete, Atwell threw a perfect 34-yard strike to WR Demarcus Robinson. Robinson was determined to not have completed the catch as a defensive back rode him out of bounds. On the day, Matthew Stafford was 16 of 25 for 221 yards and a touchdown. It was not a great game for Stafford.

But it was enough for the win. It was a miraculous win. With 4:02 remaining in the game, the ESPN probability calculator believed the 49ers were 95 percent likely to win the game. With 3:00 remaining in the game, that probability was 93 percent.

The Rams fought hard. HC Sean McVay called one heckuva game. And the Rams improved to 1-2.

As always, thanks for reading.