In a nail-biting NFC West clash that stretched into overtime, the San Francisco 49ers scraped out a 26-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night at SoFi Stadium. Mac Jones, stepping in as the 49ers' quarterback amid a wave of injuries, orchestrated just enough to keep his team afloat. The game, a back-and-forth affair from the opening kickoff, highlighted the grit of both squads, but it was San Francisco's defense that sealed the deal with a crucial stop.
Jones completed 22 of 35 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown, showing poise despite the pressure from a Rams defense hungry for a turnaround. On the other side, Matthew Stafford threw for 280 yards and two scores for Los Angeles, but critical mistakes, including a fumble by Kyren Williams on fourth-and-1 in overtime, proved costly. Williams, the Rams' workhorse back, rushed for 98 yards but couldn't convert when it mattered most, leaving the home crowd stunned.
The 49ers' kicking game provided the edge, with Eddy Piñeiro nailing a 45-yard field goal to take the lead in OT after a doinked attempt earlier rattled nerves. San Francisco's defense, led by Fred Warner's sideline-to-sideline tackling, held firm without recording an interception—their 12th straight game without one, a streak that's becoming a quiet concern. Coach Kyle Shanahan praised his team's resilience post-game, while Sean McVay lamented the Rams' inability to capitalize on opportunities.
Indeed, the win moves the 49ers to 4-1 atop the division, but questions linger about their quarterback depth with Brock Purdy sidelined. For the Rams, now 2-3, the loss exposes ongoing inconsistencies, especially after Stafford's solid outing. Christian McCaffrey's absence was felt in the run game, though Jordan Mason stepped up with 67 yards on the ground.
However, this rivalry never disappoints, and with both teams nursing bruises, the next matchup could shift the West's power balance entirely.