SANTA CLARA, Calif. — How does it keep happening?
At this point, it seems like it should be impossible.
Most teams don't even block one punt in a year — let alone three. But one individual player?
It just defies logic.
But that's Cory Littleton, who keeps getting through punt protection teams to block kicks. Officially he now has two blocked punts and one punt deflection in 2018. And this is the same Littleton who blocked a pair of punts in the 2017 season.
On Sunday, the block came early in the second quarter, with San Francisco backed up deep in its own territory. Littleton burst through the middle to get his hands on the ball off punter Bradley Pinion's foot. A few Rams dressed in color rush yellow tried to fall on it in the end zone, but the ball squirted out of the box for a safety.
"Week by week you have the scheme of the team — try to figure out their weakness and we can exploit them," Littleton said. "This week, it was right there through the A-gap and the long snapper."
So, it wasn't a touchdown. But it was still a huge play that helped L.A. maintain control of the game early. And it ended up turning into five points, as the Rams' offense got kicker Greg Zuerlein in position for a 37-yard field goal on the ensuing drive after the free kick.
Littleton gave special teams coordinator John "Bones" Fassel a lot of credit for putting him in position for that success.
The Rams take on the 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Week 7.