The fumble was forced by 49ers rookie Alfred Collins who threw a perfect punch at the football to knock it loose. If Williams had scored a touchdown, it would have put the Rams up 27-23 with just 1:05 left to play, but instead, the 49ers took over possession at their own 1-yard line.

A 49ers defense on its last legs and littered with backups dug deep when it mattered most, epitomized by rookie Alfred Collins' big play.

The San Francisco 49ers went down to Los Angeles to take on the Rams on Thursday Night Football in Week 5. The Rams were favored heading into the game as the 49ers were dealing with all kinds of injuries on the roster. Most importantly, starting quarterback Brock Purdy was out, as were wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings.

Sep 28, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) leaves the field after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Following an offseason plagued with rumors and injury concerns, Matthew Stafford is firmly a frontrunner for the NFL MVP award after week five.

Christian McCaffrey achieved a historic milestone in his 100th career NFL game in the San Francisco 49ers' win over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday.