The San Francisco 49ers opened Week 5 with a victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football. They got another win Sunday when the rest of the NFC West and the lone remaining undefeated NFC team lost.
After starting the week tied with two other teams atop the four-team division, San Francisco stands alone in first place with a 4-1 record.
The 49ers took care of one of their fellow 3-1 teams when they knocked off the Rams 26-23. That win moved the 49ers to a perfect 3-0 record within the division after five weeks.
Seattle was the other 3-1 team entering play Sunday. They hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and gave the Bucs all they could handle. The Seahawks led 35-28 with 3:25 to play, but Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield tied the game with an 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:11 left.
The Seahawks had plenty of time to get into field goal range when they took over with 1:08 left. Quarterback Sam Darnold on the second play of the drive, however, threw an interception that not only halted the home team’s game-winning drive attempt. It also put Tampa Bay at Seattle’s 35 to start the drive. From there they needed only three plays to get to Seattle’s 20 where they set up for a game-winning 39-yard kick from former 49er Chase McLaughlin.
To put a cherry on top of the NFC West week for the 49ers, the 2-2 Arizona Cardinals fell at home to the winless Tennessee Titans. The Cardinals looked like they were going to cruise. They led 21-6 at halftime and held that lead entering the fourth quarter. Then the wheels fell off as the Titans ripped off 16 unanswered points with two touchdowns (one missed extra point) and a game-winning 29-yard field goal in the final seconds by former 49ers kicker Joey Slye.
It’s too early to look at the NFC standings with any sincerity, but there was a notable loss at the top of the conference. The Philadelphia Eagles entered the week with a perfect 4-0 record and they led the Denver Broncos 17-3 going into the fourth quarter. Denver responded with an 18-0 run in the quarter to steal an unlikely 21-17 win from the Eagles in Philadelphia.
Updated NFC West standings after Week 5
- 49ers (4-1)
- Seahawks (3-2)
- Rams (3-2)
- Cardinals (2-3)
Updated NFC playoff picture after Week 5
- San Francisco 49ers (4-1)
- Philadelphia Eagles (4-1)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1)
- Detroit Lions (4-1)
- Green Bay Packers (2-1-1)
- Seattle Seahawks (3-2)
- Minnesota Vikings (3-2)
Who do the 49ers play next?
Week 6 features what is arguably the most difficult game left on San Francisco’s schedule. They’ll visit the Buccaneers in a showdown of 4-1 teams. Both clubs are coming off thrilling Week 5 victories, but San Francisco is coming off an extra three days of rest thanks to their mini bye week after a Thursday Night Football game. Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium is slated for 1:25pm Pacific Time.
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