View images from the 49ers season opener against the Los Angeles Rams.
Let the Chip Kelly era begin in San Francisco. The 49ers open their 2016 season with a Week 1 home game against the Los Angeles Rams on "Monday Night Football."
Follow along all night for live updates as San Francisco looks to top its divisional foes.
Pregame
Inactives have been announced, and there are notable players not playing for each team.
Chris Davis and Keith Reaser are two of San Francisco's scratches. Both injured defensive backs were expected to see action as the team's nickel cornerback. The 49ers could call upon Jimmie Ward to play in the slot and move Dontae Johnson or rookie Rashard Robinson into the starting role outside.
Both Quinton Dial and Arik Armstead are active, dispelling any concerns that they wouldn't be ready to go Week 1.
For Los Angeles, top overall pick Jared Goff is inactive. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher told reporters that the rookie quarterback would be the third-string signal-caller against the 49ers. That could change going forward, but we won't see the Cal product on Monday night.
Here's the full list of 49ers inactives: Joshua Garnett, Reaser, Davis, Christian Ponder, John Theus, Taylor Hart and Glenn Dorsey.
And for the Rams: Goff, Pharoh Cooper, Nelson Spruce, E.J. Gaines, Matt Longacre, Pace Murphy and Steve Williams.
In a lineup change along the 49ers offensive line, Andrew Tiller will start at right guard in place of Anthony Davis.
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First Quarter**
Los Angeles won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. Rams quarterback Case Keenum completed an 8-yard pass to Kenny Britt on 3rd-and-4 to get Los Angeles moving. The 49ers allowed one more first down before getting a stop near midfield. On 3rd-and-10 from San Francisco's 46-yard line, Ronald Blair III came free to pressure Keenum and force an incompletion.
Blaine Gabbert converted San Francisco's first 3rd-down attempt with an 11-yard scramble up the middle, but that's all the 49ers could get going on their initial offensive possession.
Bradley Pinion punted the ball back to the Rams, a 52-yard kick that was fair caught at Los Angeles' 9-yard line.
San Francisco's defense continued to bring the juice and forced a quick three-and-out. The 49ers held Todd Gurley to two yards on two carries. Ahmad Brooks and Arik Armstead combined for a 3rd-down sack of Keenum. Armstead pushed the pile back and Brooks cut inside to rush between the tackles.
Jeremy Kerley returned the ensuing punt 7 yards to the 49ers 48-yard line to give the team excellent field position.
Gabbert continued to use his legs on the 49ers second drive. The quarterback's 11-yard run helped move the ball deep into Rams territory. A clutch, 7-yard pass to Shaun Draughn on third down helped move the chains and set up the first score of the game.
Pierre Garçon took the ball up the middle for an 11-yard touchdown run to open the scoring. Phil Dawson's PAT was true to give the 49ers a 7-0 lead. (3:24)
On his way into the end zone, Hyde unleashed a filthy hesitation move before bursting through a hole up the middle. Ricky Bobby would have been proud of Hyde's shake and bake.
The 49ers defense promptly forced another three-and-out to get the ball right back to San Francisco's offense.
A 15-yard completion to Torrey Smith got the 49ers moving. Hyde followed with an 18-yard run to the Rams 43-yard line. Shaun Draughn carried the ball for 6 yards as the first quarter came to a close.
Second Quarter
The 49ers opted to go for it on 4th-and-1 from the Rams 32-yard, but a pass to Torrey Smith went for -2 yards, resulting in a turnover on downs.
A 22-yard pass to Britt stood as the longest play of the game thus far for the Rams. Los Angeles continued to move the ball into 49ers territory, and Gurley converted a 4th-and-1 from San Francisco's 33-yard line. The Rams running back was flagged for taunting following the play as he tossed the ball at 49ers cornerback Tramaine Brock.
Quinton Dial tipped Keenum's next pass, and NaVorro Bowman made a leaping grab to come down with the interception. Replay showed that Bowman caught the ball between his legs before it touched the ground.
Hyde broke off a 16-yard run down the left sideline to get San Francisco moving once again. Three plays later, Chip Kelly opted to roll the dice again and go for it on 4th-and-6 from the Rams 39-yard line. The 49ers
converted this time around on an 18-yard strike from Gabbert to Kerley. Gabbert's 9-yard run converted another third down to set up 1st-and-goal.
Shaun Draughn ran around the left edge, broke a tackle with a stiff arm and found the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run to put San Francisco up 14-0. (8:21)
San Francisco's defense continued to stand tall. Jimmie Ward broke up a 3rd-down pass to get the 49ers another stop.
Hyde kept rolling with an 11-yard run to open the 49ers next drive. A 15-yard personal foul for a late hit on Gabbert got San Francisco an additional 15 yards. Gabbert completed his fourth pass of the day to Kerley for a 10-yard gain on 3rd-and-6. Los Angeles got the ball back, however, recovering a Draughn fumble after the running back gained 11 yards on a reception.
Jim O'Neil's defense continued its dominant first half. Ray-Ray Armstrong dropped Gurley for a 5-yard loss on a 1st-down reception. Two plays later Armstead sacked Keenum for a 4-yard loss. Brooks got a great pass rush on the play and forced Keenum to step up in the pocked where Armstead was waiting.
The 49ers went into halftime pitching a shutout, up 14-0.
Third Quarter
Los Angeles got the early momentum in the second half with a three-and-out to begin the second half.
The teams continued to trade stops midway into the second quarter. San Francisco held the Rams to 1-10 on third-down attempts thus far into the game.
Of note, Eric Reid, Antoine Bethea and Jaquiski Tartt have played together for a significant portion of Monday night's game. Defensive coordinator Jim O'Neil said that his best 11 players would play, and the 49ers trio of safeties are clearly on the list. Reid and Tartt have spent time playing in the nickel and both have blitzed on multiple occasions.
Tartt has also been an ace on special teams. The safety made two impressive open-field tackles on Rams punt returner Tavon Austin and saved a touchdown on a third return by forcing Austin out of bounds.
Austin's 28-yard return immediately put the Rams in scoring range. Armstrong came to the rescue for the 49ers and intercepted a Keenum pass intended for tight end Lance Kendricks.
Quinton Patton helped the 49ers offense end what was a slow third quarter with a 13-yard reception on 3rd-and-8.
Fourth Quarter
Gabbert opened the fourth quarter with 17-yard toss to Kerley. The quarterback was rolling to his right and found Kerley wide open on a crossing route. Torrey Smith drew a pass interference penalty to give San Francisco a first down at Los Angeles' 38-yard line.
A 35-yard catch and run by Patton set up 1st-and-goal from the 8-yard line. Patton made a nice spin move up the left sideline to juke the defensive back in coverage.
Two plays later, Gabbert hit Garrett Celek at the goal line for an 8-yard touchdown pass to extend the 49ers lead to 21-0. (12:07).
Patton's two big catches on the scoring drive gave him five receptions for 60 yards in the game.
San Francisco's defense kept their shutout in tact with another three-and-out. Johnny Hekker followed with his 10th (!!!) punt of the game.
Things unraveled for Los Angeles on the 49ers next possession. Rams defensive lineman was called for an unnecessary roughness penalty following a play and then made contact with an official. The scrum earned Donald an ejection from the game.
A pass interference penalty gave the 49ers the ball on the 1-yard line.
Hyde did the rest, running in from 1-yard out for his second touchdown of the game, giving the 49ers a commanding 28-0 lead. (5:14)
This marks Hyde's second straight two-touchdown performance on Week 1, having posted a similar stat line in 2015 against the Minnesota Vikings on "Monday Night Football."
San Francisco's defense held on to their shutout, sealing the 49ers 28-0 win over the Rams to improve to 1-0 on the season. (0:00)
The 49ers will head to Carolina in Week 2 for a clash against the Panthers.