NFL Week 5: 49ers‘ Coaching Praised Amidst Injuries,Rams‘ Kicking Woes Deepen
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SANTA CLARA,Calif.& LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Despite notable player absences, teh San Francisco 49ers secured a crucial Thursday night victory, while the Los Angeles Rams continue to grapple with special teams instability following a narrow win, highlighting key questions and takeaways as the NFL enters Week 6. The 49ers’ ability to compete at a high level despite being “wounded” and “down a bunch of guys” underscores the importance of coaching, and the Rams’ kicking issues raise concerns about their ability to consistently close out games.
This week’s games revealed the critical role of coaching adaptability and special teams reliability as teams navigate the early season challenges of injuries and competitive matchups.For the 49ers, it’s a testament to their depth and readiness; for the Rams, it’s a glaring weakness that could derail their playoff aspirations.
San Francisco 49ers
Fred Warner credited Kyle Shanahan, Robert Saleh, and the 49ers coaching staff for preparing an undermanned team to compete. “They’re the best in the game,” Warner said. “A game like [Thursday] speaks to that wholly, right? You’re on a short week, you’re wounded, you’re down a bunch of guys, and to get your players prepared enough to go out there and compete at the level that we did, I think the intensity was there from the frist snap.”
Next game: at Buccaneers (sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Los Angeles rams
The Rams’ kicking unit is a growing concern. joshua Karty has missed five kicks this season, tied with Harrison Butker of the Chiefs for the most in the NFL. Four of Karty’s kicks have been blocked,the most for any kicker in the league. The Rams’ previous loss also involved two blocked field goals, amplifying the issue.
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua continued his impressive start, catching 10 of 12 targets for 76 yards and a touchdown. He has 50 receptions this season, surpassing Cooper Kupp’s 49 receptions in the first five games of the 2022 season - a new NFL record.
Running back Kyren Williams expressed disappointment over his fourth-quarter fumble, stating, “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.” Williams has lost seven fumbles sence the start of 2023, the most among running backs over that span.
Next game: at Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
