The NFC West is a crowded race to start the 2025 NFL season, as expected, but two of the teams atop the division are in very different places. Both the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers sport 3-1 records entering Week 5, which they’ll kick off on “Thursday Night Football.” Yet only one is operating with momentum.
The Rams just took care of business against an upstart contender in the Indianapolis Colts, with wide receiver Puka Nacua producing at a record pace as Matthew Stafford’s top target. Sean McVay’s offense now ranks No. 4 in the NFL in terms of yards per game, moving the ball up and down the field with the likes of the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, all but cementing themselves as a heavyweight in the NFC.
The 49ers, meanwhile, are battling a barrage of injuries, not so unlike some of coach Kyle Shanahan’s toughest seasons atop the staff in San Francisco. Big names like George Kittle and Nick Bosa are sidelined indefinitely, but plenty of others are newly banged up as well, including quarterback Brock Purdy, who aggravated a toe injury in a sloppy Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Are the 49ers set for an uphill battle, hitting the road on a short week? It sure seems that way. But this is still must-see TV considering the implications for the NFC West race. Here’s everything you need to know:
Where to watch Rams vs. 49ers live
Date: Thursday, Oct. 2 | Time: 8:15 p.m. ETLocation: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)Stream: Prime VideoFollow: CBS Sports AppOdds: Rams -8.5; O/U 44.5 (via DraftKings Sportsbook)
Bet Rams vs. 49ers at DraftKings Sportsbook, where new users get $200 in bonus bets with a winning $5 wager. Click here to get started.
Key questions
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