Another overtime thriller added drama to Week 5, as Kyle Shanahan dragged a battered 49ers squad to a 26–23 win over the Rams. No QB1, no top receivers, half the roster limping, and he still found a way. Honestly, you could make a case that this was one of the gutsiest wins of his career. Here are some key takeaways from this explosive matchup.

Puca Nacua is the engine of Rams’ offense

Despite the Rams’ loss, Puca Nacua continued to do what he has been doing all season long: keep the Rams offense running. And tonight, he made history doing so. With 50 catches in just five games, Nacua became the first player in league history to hit that mark. Incredible.

The previous record holder was Michael Thomas, who racked up 49 receptions during the five-game period. Besides putting his name in the history books, Nacua racked up 10 receptions and one touchdown. Too bad he couldn’t come away with a win. Nevertheless, what he’s producing this season is insane.

Puka Nacua continues to break records as a 5th-round draft pick 🤯 pic.twitter.com/YUExn1pymP

49ers injury pileup

For the Niners, it’s a win that tastes a little bittersweet. The 49ers’ front seven has been through the wringer to start 2025. Kevin Givens never made it to Week 1, Nick Bosa’s already gone for the year, Robert Beal Jr. was out before Thursday even kicked off, and then Kalia Davis bowed out in the first half.

As if that laundry list wasn’t long enough, Yetur Gross-Matos joined the walking wounded after Matthew Stafford hit Tutu Atwell for 34 yards in the second half. And just to pile on, Mac Jones got banged up in the third quarter, only to hobble back in for overtime…where he took even more hits.

49ers QB battle

And the Niners fans would be praying all night for Jones to be healthy. His night was nothing short of heroic: 342 yards, two touchdowns, no turnovers. In the three games Mac Jones has started, including Thursday night, the Niners are a perfect 3-0. With Brock Purdy? Just 1-1. And Jones has been at the center of it all. The offense is averaging 19 points per game with Purdy, but that jumps to 22.6 when Jones is running the show. The QB battle is very much on when Purdy comes back.

Sean McVay’s fourth down call

The Rams‘ offense went all in on the second half, but couldn’t find a yard on fourth-and-1 in the most pivotal play of the game. Sean McVay‘s call was a run to the right by RB Kyren Williams instead of going for a field goal, which Sean McVay admitted was a wrong call.

“Bad call by me. I’m pretty sick right now. I’m sick of this spot I put our group in to end the game, but hey, these are the tough beats you have to learn from and move forward, and that’s what we’re going to do,” he said.

Kyren Williams costs the Rams the win

If there’s a single play Rams fans will have on loop in their nightmares, it’s Kyren Williams’ fumble. With the game on the line, L.A. was marching inside San Francisco’s 10. All they needed was one more clean snap, one more push. Instead? Williams coughed it up.

And this wasn’t a one-off. Williams has lost seven fumbles since the start of 2023. That’s the most fumbles lost among running backs over that period. Well, at least he held himself accountable after the game. “S— sucks. I don’t know. For me, I just got to hold onto the ball. I feel like I let the team down at the 1-yard line, not securing the one thing that matters and scoring the touchdown. So for me, I put this all on me, honestly, and just knowing that I got to be better,” he said.

Rams’ field goal issues

The kickoffs have rarely been an issue for the Rams, but when it comes to placekicking? Not so much. Rookie Joshua Karty had himself a rough night: first yanking a 53-yarder wide right, then shanking an extra point that would’ve given L.A. the late lead.

Both misses loomed large down the stretch. Sure, Karty nailed a 48-yarder to force overtime, but the Rams probably wouldn’t have needed the extra drama if he’d cashed in earlier. Instead, his rollercoaster leg turned what could’ve been a clean finish into a nail-biter.