Deebo Samuel’s key drop part of a bad night for the 49ers offense Boston 25 News [Video]

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — (AP) — Deebo Samuel called for the ball more often this week on social media.

When the ball came his way at a big spot in the game for San Francisco, Samuel ended up dropping it in a key play in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night that just about doomed the playoff hopes for the 49ers.

The play in question came midway through the third quarter with the game tied at 3 and the Niners driving for a go-ahead score. Brock Purdy targeted Samuel on a slant over the middle on third-and-10 and hit him right in the hands.

But he dropped it instead, turning a potential touchdown into a field goal and leading to boos from the home crowd.

“I catch that ball, there’s nothing there but the end zone,” Samuel said. “At the end of the day, I gotta catch that rock.”

Instead, it was part of another lackluster day for a player who has gone from …