League: NFL Sport: Football Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Rams bench Matthew Stafford during season-opening loss to 49ers

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 11, 2026, 7:28 AM

Last updated Sep 11, 2026

Rams bench Matthew Stafford during season-opening loss to 49ers

Summary

The Los Angeles Rams failed to score early against the San Francisco 49ers during Thursday night's season opener, finishing the game with a 27-7 deficit. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was removed from the field with 3:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. Head coach Sean McVay replaced him with backup Stetson Bennett, a move characterized by the team as a decision to protect the 38-year-old starter in an out-of-reach contest. Stafford finished the game completing 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards with one interception. The Rams offense struggled to find momentum throughout the night, including a failed fourth-and-goal conversion in the third quarter. The team will now look to rebound when they host the New York Giants on September 21.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•The 49ers led the Rams 27-7 when the quarterback change occurred.
•Matthew Stafford completed 15 of 25 passes with no touchdowns and one interception.
•Stetson Bennett replaced Stafford for the final 3:05 of the contest.
•The Rams host the New York Giants at SoFi Stadium on September 21.

Latest Updates

7:28 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Closer to Eli (Manning) Than He Is to (Drew) Brees,’ ‘Needs a Nap’ — NFL Fans React to Rams Pulling Matthew Stafford vs. 49ers

What they're saying

"
The Los Angeles Rams entered their first game of the season with plenty of expectations after a blockbuster offseason. But if Rams fans expected fireworks on offense, they were left badly disappointed as Los Angeles failed to get going on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Los Angeles Rams New York Giants San Francisco 49ers NFL Football

Sources

External links

Yahoo SportsSep 11, 2026, 7:28 AM
‘Closer to Eli (Manning) Than He Is to (Drew) Brees,’ ‘Needs a Nap’ — NFL Fans React to Rams Pulling Matthew Stafford vs. 49ers
The Los Angeles Rams entered their first game of the season with plenty of expectations after a blockbuster offseason. But if Rams fans expected fireworks on offense, they were left badly disappointed as Los Angeles failed to get going on Thursday night against the San Francisco 49ers.

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Sources

Related Stories