In a game that had everything from injuries to last-second drama, the San Francisco 49ers managed to escape SoFi Stadium with a 26-23 overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football. It was the kind of matchup that underscores the NFC West's brutal intensity, where every play feels like it could swing the division lead. Christian McCaffrey, ever the workhorse for the Niners, racked up key yards on the ground, though the spotlight oddly shifted to backup quarterback Mac Jones, who threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns in place of the sidelined Brock Purdy.
Indeed, the 49ers entered this Week 5 tilt banged up—Purdy out, George Kittle questionable, and even rookie Ricky Pearsall sidelined—but they still controlled much of the first half. The Rams, led by Matthew Stafford, fought back with mistakes of their own, including a doinked field goal that kept San Francisco alive. Overtime brought the real chaos: after a field goal exchange, Los Angeles gambled on fourth-and-1 at the Niners' 28, only for Kyren Williams to get stuffed short. That stop sealed it for San Francisco, boosting their record to 4-1 and solidifying their grip on the division.
McCaffrey's performance, while not his flashiest, added 87 rushing yards to his tally, reminding fans why he's the league's premier back. On the other side, the Rams drop to 2-3, their aggressive play-calling under Sean McVay drawing some quiet scrutiny after that OT blunder. For those who missed it, Thursday Night Football aired on Prime Video, with local broadcasts on Fox and CBS affiliates—standard fare for TNF viewers.
Looking ahead, the 49ers face a tough Seattle road game next Sunday, while the Rams host the Eagles. Schedules are packed: Niners at 49ers.com for full details, Rams via their site. Predictions had favored L.A. slightly, but this result flips the script. However, with injuries piling up in San Francisco, one can't help but wonder if this miracle holds up.