49ers make Week 1 statement with dominant win over Rams - USA Today

We have seen three of the four teams in the NFC play in Week 1. The San Francisco 49ers made a statement.

While the Seattle Seahawks gutted themselves to a 13-10 season-opening win over the New England Patriots after starting quarterback Sam Darnold injured his hip, the 49ers were the first team in arguably the league's toughest division to impress.

They beat the Super Bowl favorite Los Angeles Rams on Thursday 27-7. They dominated a team expected to roll through the league.

Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes, and the Niners defense held Rams QB Matthew Stafford, the reigning league MVP to zero touchdown passes and an interception.

The defense, which was a problem for the 49ers last season, held the Rams, the league's No. 1 offense a season ago, to 290 yards. They held the Rams to 2-for-9 in third down and 1-for-3 on fourth down, and they had a fourth-down goalline stop that changed the tone of the game.

The 49ers now hold the division lead at 1-0 with a division win.

The Cardinals won't play until Sunday, facing the Los Angeles Chargers on the road.

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