NFC Championship, 2021: Los Angeles Rams 20 San Francisco 17

Game information
The Los Angeles Rams overcame a 10-point fourth quarter deficit with three scores in the final period to earn their fifth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

Los Angeles got their first scoring opportunity on their second drive, moving the ball to the 49ers 3-yard line. But on 3rd-and-goal, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a pass that was deflected by K'Waun Williams into the hands of Jimmie Ward for an interception. At the end of San Francisco's drive, Mitch Wishnowsky's 37-yard punt pinned the Rams back on their own 3-yard line. The Rams proved up to the task, moving the ball 97 yards in 18 plays on a drive that took 9:33 off the clock. Los Angeles wide receiver Cooper Kupp caught 3 passes for 36 yards on the drive, the last a 16-yard touchdown catch to give his team a 7–0 lead with 8:46 left in the second quarter.

San Francisco quickly struck back, with Jimmy Garoppolo completing a 31-yard pass to Brandon Aiyuk before connecting with Deebo Samuel for a 44-yard catch-and-run score to tie the game. Los Angeles responded with a drive to the 49ers 36-yard line, but could go no further and Matt Gay sailed a 54-yard field goal attempt wide right. Taking the ball back with 1:50 left on the clock, San Francisco drove 36 yards in 8 plays to take a 10–7 lead with Robbie Gould's 38-yard field goal as time expired in the half, continuing his perfection on career postseason field goal attempts (21-of-21).

After forcing the 49ers to punt on the first drive of the third quarter, the Rams drove to a 2nd-and-1 on the San Francisco 43-yard line. But after an incomplete pass and a run for no gain, Stafford was stuffed short on a quarterback sneak, causing a turnover on downs. Los Angeles challenged the ruling, but the play was upheld. San Francisco then drove 58 yards in 10 plays to go up 17–7 on Garoppolo's 16-yard pass touchdown pass to tight end George Kittle with 1:59 left in the third quarter.

However, this was the extent of San Francisco's success as the Rams would go on to dominate the final period. On the first play of Los Angeles' next drive, a 15-yard taunting penalty turned Kupp's 7-yard catch into a 22-yard gain. Then after an 11-yard catch by Kupp, tight end Kendall Blanton caught passes for gains of 20 and 9 yards before Kupp made the score 17–14 with an 11-yard touchdown reception. Following a 49ers punt, Stafford threw a deep pass that could have been easily intercepted by Jaquiski Tartt, only to have Tartt drop the ball. Instead, Stafford's completions to Odell Beckham Jr. for 29 yards (with an added 15-yard penalty against Ward for initiating helmet-to-helmet contact with Beckham) and Kupp for 16 yards set up Gay's 40-yard field goal, tying the score at 17 with 6:49 left in regulation. After forcing another punt, the Rams drove 49 yards in 10 plays, the longest a 25-yard catch by Kupp. Gay finished off the drive with a 30-yard field goal, giving the Rams a 20–17 lead with 1:46 left in the game. Then on the third play of San Francisco's next possession, Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald pressured Garoppolo and forced a pass off the hands of 49ers running back JaMycal Hasty and into the hands of Travin Howard for the interception, enabling Los Angeles to run out the rest of the clock as the Rams became the second NFL team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium (the 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the previous Super Bowl at their home venue of Raymond James Stadium).

Stafford completed 31 of 45 passes for 337 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 1 interception, while also rushing for 8 yards. Kupp caught 11 passes for 142 yards and 2 scores, while Beckham had 9 receptions for 113. Garoppolo finished the day 16/30 for 232 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 1 interception, and 4 rushing yards. Samuel had 124 all-purpose yards (26 rushing yards, 26 kickoff return yards, 4 receptions for 72 yards and a score). This was Joe Buck and Troy Aikman's final broadcast as Fox's #1 team for their football telecasts (they would move to ESPN's Monday Night Football for the 2022 season).

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