Rams vs. 49ers 2017 live updates: Scores, highlights, and results from ‘Thursday Night Football’

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The Los Angeles Rams had their hot start cooled when Washington escaped Los Angeles with a 27-20 victory. Now, fresh off holding Kirk Cousins to only 179 passing yards, they look to get back on track against an underwhelming Brian Hoyer and the San Francisco 49ers.

Hoyer has been inefficient to begin his San Francisco career. Signed as a stopgap solution to the team’s quarterback woes, the journeyman passer has thrown for just 292 passing yards in two starts, averaging a career-low 4.7 yards per attempt. Only the Bengals have scored fewer points per game than the 49ers’ 6.0.

Los Angeles, on the other hand, has been trending in the opposite direction. No team in the league scored more points in Week 1 than the Rams’ 46 — though 14 of those came directly from Scott Tolzien pick-sixes. Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick of the 2016 NFL draft, finally got his first win as a pro, and early returns on his sophomore season have been positive.

While Goff hasn’t lit the world on fire with his arm, he’s been quietly competent for the Rams. He’s cut his interception rate nearly in half while completing two-thirds of his passes, making the franchise’s plan to build around him look a bit wiser. He’ll be tested Thursday, however. The 49ers have held opponents to an 84.5 passer rating through two games and limited opponents to just 176 passing yards per contest.

If Goff can’t make a difference, maybe Todd Gurley can. The 2015 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year got off to a slow start against the Colts, but rebounded for an impressive 88-yard performance against Washington that showcased the powerful back’s insane athleticism.

The 49ers have been stingy against the run, holding opposing backs to just 3.3 yards per carry so far, so Thursday’s game could be the litmus test that tells us whether Gurley is back or if Sunday was just a mirage.

A Rams win keeps them atop the NFC West standings through three weeks. A loss keeps the division wide open. That might not be much of a reason to watch an otherwise forgettable Thursday Night Football broadcast in Week 3 — but hey, it’s football.

Pregame reading

• The Rams based their rebuild around Jared Goff, and now he’s rewarding that faith.

Out is Jeff Fisher and in is Sean McVay, the youngest head coach in the NFL. He was brought in to fix Jared Goff. What did the Rams do right away? They signed left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center John Sullivan. Give Goff protection. They drafted Cooper Kupp, signed Robert Woods and traded for Sammy Watkins. Give Goff weapons.

• Even after scoring more points than anyone in the NFL in Week 1, the Rams struggled to get fans out to the L.A. Coliseum.

The Rams hosted Washington on Sunday in front of a mostly-empty stadium, casting doubt on whether the City of Angels is a premier market for one NFL franchise, let alone two. The red and white seatbacks of Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum were plainly visible throughout the first quarter as a smattering of fans took in the action live.

• Late preseason addition Laken Tomlinson has improved with the 49ers and has likely locked down his spot on the offensive line.

Tomlinson took part in 48 of 49 offensive snaps against the Seahawks. He allowed two hurries against the Seahawks, according to Pro Football Focus. He wasn’t perfect, but he was significantly better than Zane Beadles. Most importantly, his issues didn’t stem from missed assignments, always a concern in a new system.

• Carlos Hyde fulfilled his potential Sunday, running for 124 yards and earning recognition across the league.

The 49ers defense was the key to this game, but Hyde was the only consistent thing on offense, finishing with 124 yards on 15 carries, and 19 receiving yards on three catches.

Hyde’s performance is being recognized, as he has been nominated for the Week 2 FedEx Ground Player of the Week award.

• Sean McVay wasn’t thrilled with Aaron Donald’s first game back after his contract holdout, but he knows better days are ahead.

“I think he did some good things. I think he’s getting more and more comfortable just getting back into the rhythm of a normal game. That’s the first time he’s had live action in a year. So, I think the standards that he has for himself and that we have for him – we know that there’s a couple things that he can do better.”

• The Rams Color Rush uniforms are ACTUALLY pretty good!

Yeah, I know — these are just regular mustard, or low power mode on your iPhone, or Laa Laa the Teletubby, or even Tom Herman hydration chart (pee!) colored. But damn it, they’re good uniforms.