The NFL season is a long one for players and coaches, but it usually goes fast for the fans, and so much can change quicky, but almost 5-weeks into the 2026 season the San Francisco 49ers look like the strongest team in the NFC. Not the Los Angeles Rams.
When the Rams kept Matthew Stafford, added Trent McDuffie, Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald and more, the question was: Who can beat the Rams?
The 49ers answered that question in Week 1. The Denver Broncos answered that in Week 3. The Philadelphia Eagles
almost beat the Rams in Week 4, and in Week 5 the Rams take on Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
Injuries
As Week 5 wraps up, more and more teams are stacking injuries. The woundings are all over the league. The 49ers know all about it as each week they lose more and more players, but they are still 5-0. It’s remarkable.
For the Rams, they are hoping their early season woundings are just that, early season woundings.
All this to say, the Rams can get hot later in the year and snatch some of SF’s shine, but as it stands the 49ers look like the best team in the NFC. Literally about a month ago it was supposed to be the Rams.
Never a dull year in the NFL.
49ers report card from win over Seahawks: A+ for entertainment in latest entry of division rivalry (mercurynews)
“A day after announcing the birth of his son, Christian McCaffrey fathered the 49ers’ game-winning drive that started with runs for 8 and 13 yards, then a 3-yard catch. Kaelon Black then cut up the middle for an 11-yard run, and after a 4-yard McCaffrey catch and 5-yard Black run, the 49ers were in position for a winning field goal. They had just 94 yards as a team, but McCaffrey had 68 yards on 11 carries, including his fifth touchdown run this season.”
49ers Grades After 32-29 Win Over Seahawks: Mike Evans Dominates Seattle (si.com)
“Brock Purdy was clutch against an elite defense, and he gets credit for that. When the game was tight in the fourth quarter, Purdy played his best because he threw repeatedly to Mike Evans, his only good wide receiver. That was smart. Earlier in the game, Purdy got intercepted because he forced a pass to his worst wide receiver, Jacob Cowing. That was not smart. Overall, Purdy did the best he could with a depleted supporting cast, and eventually found the Seahawks’ weakest link — cornerback Josh Jobe. As opposed to Sam Darnold, who essentially lost the game for the Seahawks with his two turnovers. Purdy didn’t have to win this game — he just had to let the Seahawks lose it, and they did.“
Mike Evans stars in 49ers’ win: ‘Exactly why he’s here’ (espn)
“SEATTLE — After 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans introduced himself to the team’s rivalry with the Seahawks on Sunday, the superlatives from his teammates and coaches flowed as freely as the coffee that pumps through Seattle.
Linebacker Fred Warner called Evans “a walking aura.” Running back Christian McCaffrey said Evans is “everything we want in a receiver.” Wideout Brandin Cooks referred to Evans as a “first-ballot Hall of Famer.” Center Jake Brendel kept it simple, noting Evans is an “official grown man.”
Rams need Byron Young to lead the charge once again against the Bills (ramblnfan)
“Without Garrett, with sophomore edge rusher Josaiah Stewart managing a recent groin injury, and with Aaron Donald in and out of the lineup as he navigates his NFL return, Young is the Rams’ best bet to singlehandedly wreck plays and generate pressure up front.
Rams will rely on Young to lead the pass rush once again vs. Bills
The defensewill need to create such chaos against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. Young’s speed off the edge could prove crucial to keeping Allen contained or at least forcing him to scramble in the opposite direction, allowing the Rams time to shift the defense accordingly.“
Bills-Rams anytime touchdown scorer predictions for Monday Night Football (usatoday)
“The Los Angeles Rams have been almost as good defensively as we expected coming into the season — even with Myles Garrett on injured reserve and Aaron Donald in and out the lineup. They rank second in the NFL in fewest yards allowed, they’re top-10 in points allowed and they haven’t allowed a touchdown to a running back all season.
And yet, those things mean nothing when Josh Allen rolls into town Monday night.
We can expect Matthew Stafford and the Rams to put up points on a weak Buffalo Bills defense in this Week 5 matchup. But don’t be surprised if the Bills respond and turn this game into a shootout between the last two MVPs. Below are my favorite anytime touchdown scorer bets for the game.“
Why losing Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett might have made the Rams’ defense even stronger (nypost)
“Kobie Turner played 48 defensive snaps, nearly 80% of the total. Braden Fiske logged 44, his heaviest workload since the middle of last season, and generated seven pressures. Poona Ford and Tyler Davis combined for 48 snaps, while Larrell Murchison and Ty Hamilton contributed another 23. Even undrafted rookie Wesley Bailey got 29 snaps, with Desjuan Johnson adding seven more.
Those aren’t meaningless numbers buried deep in the stat book. They’re investments in a defense that might need every one of those players when the stakes become considerably higher later in the year.
“I think it’s key and critical to continue to build camaraderie and continue to understand who we are rushing with and playing beside,” Turner said. “That’s what those games do for us.”
Turner is right. Defensive line chemistry isn’t something coaches can manufacture with a whiteboard and a motivational speech. Camaraderie and cohesion is forged through hundreds of collisions, knowing when your teammate is going to twist inside, recognizing when he’s lost contain and instinctively covering the gap before an opposing quarterback exploits it.“
Is Myles Garrett playing for Rams tonight on MNF vs. Bills? (sports.yahoo)
“Garrett is not expected to be available when the Rams take on quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills, according to McVay: “It’s week to week in terms of how he feels, but I would say it’s more likely that we do not start his clock next week.”
Garrett last played against the Bills on Dec. 21 of last season while he was still a member of the Cleveland Browns. Garrett was credited with a tackle and 0.5 sacks.“
2026 NFL season, Week 5: What We Learned from Sunday’s games (nfl.com)
“London
- Jacksonville Jaguars 19, Philadelphia Eagles 17
Early Window
- Cincinnati Bengals 31, Miami Dolphins 24
- New England Patriots 45, Las Vegas Raiders 17
- Minnesota Vikings 23, New Orleans Saints 13
- New York Jets 17, Cleveland Browns 12
- Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Indianapolis Colts 22
- Houston Texans 26, Tennessee Titans 3
- New York Giant 27, Washington Commanders 27 (OT)
- Green Bay Packers 31, Chicago Bears 7
Late Window
- Denver Broncos 23, Los Angeles Chargers 17
- Detroit Lions 45, Arizona Cardinals 21
- San Francisco 49ers 32, Seattle Seahawks 29
Sunday Night
Baltimore Ravens 30, Atlanta Falcons 23 (OT)“
Bills vs. Rams prediction, odds, time: ‘Monday Night Football’ picks from proven model (cbssports)
“After 10,000 simulations of Bills vs. Rams, the model is going Under 54.5 points at betting apps. The Under has hit in each of Los Angeles’ last two games as the home team. The Under is also 1-0 in Rams’ games when the line is over 48 points.
Los Angeles’ defense is second in he league, allowing 247.5 yards per game. The Rams have also allowed the ninth-fewest points on the season at 20.8. Quarterback Josh Allen leads the Buffalo offense. In four games, he has completed 66.4% of his passes for 1,039 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions. Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford has been up and down. He also has started four games, completing 61.1% of his passes for 1,189 yards and six touchdowns with six interceptions.“
Top Rams News: Previews and predictions for Rams vs. Bills on Monday Night Football for Week 5 (therams.com)
“Throughout the regular season, therams.com will be taking a look around the internet for the top Rams headlines of the day. Here’s a look at what’s out there on Sunday, Oct. 11 about your Los Angeles Rams before their Week 5 game against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football at 5:15 p.m. PT.”
Comment of the Day:
“I’m very concerned that we might find ourselves 2-3 Tuesday morning. If so, we’d be effectively 3 1/2 games behind SF. At that point our focus needs to change from winning the NFC West to just making the playoffs. The 49ers would need to collapse not to win the West. One sorry team is going to get in from the NFC East and South. So we have to figure out a way to finish the season ahead of any two of the following teams; Seattle (unlikely), Minnesota, Chicago, GB or Detroit. IF we can lock in a playoff, anything can happen if we get Garrett back and stay healthy. It’s just harder not getting a bye and doing playoffs on the road.🤞” -SlowTightEnd
