If you had "Mac Jones leading the Niners in a shootout against Matthew Stafford" on your 2025 bingo card, honestly, you should probably go buy a lottery ticket. The 49ers vs Rams 2025 matchups were supposed to be about Brock Purdy’s poise and the usual Kyle Shanahan "ground and pound" mastery. Instead, we got a chaotic, injury-riddled, and surprisingly high-octane series that basically redefined the NFC West hierarchy for the season.
It was a weird year.
San Francisco entered the fall without some of their biggest icons. Deebo Samuel was gone, traded to Washington. Defensive staples like Dre Greenlaw and Charvarius Ward were off the roster. Then the injury bug decided to set up permanent residence in Santa Clara. Brock Purdy spent half the season nursing a stubborn toe injury, which is how we ended up with Mac Jones taking snaps in the biggest rivalry games of the year.
The Week 5 Overtime Heartbreaker at SoFi
The first installment of 49ers vs Rams 2025 went down on a humid Thursday night in October. It was ugly. It was beautiful. It was entirely unpredictable.
The 49ers jumped out to a 14-0 lead so fast it felt like the Rams hadn’t even finished their pre-game stretches. Mac Jones was dealing, going 5-for-5 on the opening drive and finding tight end Jake Tonges for a score. Then Christian McCaffrey punched one in. It looked like a blowout.
But then Matthew Stafford happened.
Stafford, playing like a man who refuses to acknowledge he’s in his late 30s, threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns. He dragged the Rams back into it, targeting Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams relentlessly. Williams was a machine, racking up 131 yards from scrimmage, though he’ll likely only remember the fumble at the 1-yard line with a minute left in regulation. That mistake should have ended the game.
Somehow, the Rams forced a punt, Joshua Karty nailed a 48-yarder to force overtime, and the drama peaked. In OT, Niners kicker Eddy Piñeiro—filling in for a struggling special teams unit—doinked a 41-yarder off the left upright and in. San Francisco escaped with a 26-23 win, but they left SoFi Stadium looking exhausted.
The Week 10 Revenge Game at Levi's
If the first game was a chess match, the rematch in November was a street fight. The Rams rolled into Santa Clara and basically set the stadium on fire.
Final score: Rams 42, 49ers 26.
It wasn't even as close as the score suggests. Matthew Stafford hit his 400th career touchdown pass during this game, and the Rams' offense looked unstoppable. They set a Sean McVay-era record for the highest touchdown drive rate in a single game.
"We just didn't execute," George Kittle said after the game. "We need to get our minds right."
The Niners' defense, missing Fred Warner to an ankle injury and Ji’Ayir Brown to a hamstring, simply had no answers. Every time San Francisco tried to claw back—like when Mac Jones found Jauan Jennings or Luke Farrell for scores—the Rams would just march down and score again. Davante Adams, who had joined the Rams in a mid-season splash, caught 6 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, proving that the Rams' "all-in" philosophy hadn't changed one bit.
👉 See also: Why the AS Roma Third Kit Still Rules the Curva Sud
Key Stats from the 2025 Series
- Passing Leaders: Matthew Stafford threw for 669 yards across the two games. Mac Jones held his own with 661 yards and 5 touchdowns.
- The Puka Factor: Puka Nacua became the first receiver in NFL history to record over 50 catches in the first five games of a season, a stretch that included the Week 5 thriller.
- Standings Impact: Both teams finished the regular season 12-5, trailing the 14-3 Seattle Seahawks.
Why This Season Felt Different
For years, the 49ers vs Rams 2025 rivalry was defined by the "Shanahan owns McVay" narrative. That script got flipped. The Rams' 42-point explosion at Levi's Stadium felt like a massive statement. It wasn't just about a win; it was about the Rams proving they could out-muscle and out-scheme a Niners team that was, admittedly, held together by duct tape and veteran grit.
Kyle Shanahan's ability to keep the Niners in the hunt despite 16 players appearing on the injury report by Week 10 was nothing short of miraculous. Most teams would have folded. Instead, San Francisco leaned on Brian Robinson Jr. (who took over much of the rushing load as McCaffrey dealt with various ailments) and a rotating cast of defensive linemen like Keion White.
The 2025 NFC West was arguably the best division in NFL history. You had three teams—the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers—all winning 12+ games. That's never happened before. Every divisional game felt like a playoff preview because, frankly, they were.
Looking Ahead: The Playoff Fallout
As we head into the 2026 Divisional Round, the shadow of these games looms large. The Niners just took down the Eagles in the Wild Card, while the Rams are gearing up to face the Bears. There is a very real possibility we see a third installment of 49ers vs Rams 2025 (well, technically 2026 now) in the NFC Championship.
If that happens, health will be the only thing that matters.
The Niners need Fred Warner back at 100%. The Rams need Stafford’s arm to hold up for another three weeks. Most importantly, both teams have to figure out how to stop the other's "X-factors." For the Rams, that’s containing George Kittle, who somehow always finds a way to bully their secondary. For the Niners, it’s figuring out how to stop Kyren Williams without selling out and leaving Davante Adams in one-on-one coverage.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Check the Injury Reports: If you’re betting or playing daily fantasy for the playoffs, the status of Fred Warner (ankle) and Brock Purdy (toe) is the only thing that matters for the Niners' ceiling.
- Watch the Red Zone: The Rams' 2025 success was built on a record-breaking touchdown conversion rate inside the 20. If they settle for field goals, they lose.
- Respect the Backup: Mac Jones proved he can move the ball in this system. Don't count the Niners out just because Purdy is sidelined; the system is designed to produce regardless of who is under center.
The 2025 season showed us that this rivalry doesn't need "star power" to be elite. It just needs the history, the coaching, and the sheer desperation of the NFC West.