The 49ers bounced back from their mistake-filled Week 4 loss with a thrilling 26-23 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams and their PFF grades show how they improved.

The 49ers’ offense that turned over the ball to the Jacksonville Jaguars four times was able to protect the ball much better in Week 5. Mac Jones, filling in for Brock Purdy who is nursing toe injury, completed 33 of his 49 attempts for 342 yards, two touchdowns and a 110.9 passer rating.

When Jones was under duress, he was less efficient, connecting on only eight of his 13 attempts for 89 yards and an 81.3 passer rating when pressured. Jones was much more efficient on short throws less than 10 yards, where he completed 16 of his 19 attempts for 157 yards, a touchdown and a 118.6 passer rating.

Jones attempted only two passes of 20 yards or more downfield and couldn’t connect on either of them. According to PFF, going back to 2023, Jones has only completed 12 of his 64 attempts of 20 yards or more.

After holding on to the ball for too long in his first start, Jones has gotten rid of the ball much more efficiently, keeping it 2.78 seconds in Week 2, 2.59 seconds in Week 3 and 2.33 seconds in Los Angeles.

Here are more highlights from the 49ers’ Week 5 PFF grades.

RB Christian McCaffrey — 67.8

The All-Pro’s grade was lifted by his 90.0 receiving grade — best on the team. McCaffrey caught eight of his nine targets — five of which resulted in a first down. Only two of his 22 carries resulted in a first down.

McCaffrey’s 52 targets on the season is the highest in the league, and while he has played one more game than the second-highest running back, Miami Dolphins’ De’Von Achane has only half that total with 26.

The 49ers might have only averaged 2.2 yards per carry last night but McCaffrey’ 18 first downs receiving is double that of Atlanta Falcons Bijan Robinson who has nine. 

WR Kendrick Bourne — 80.6

After a slightly shaky start, Bourne bounced back from his three-drop performance in Week 4, catching 10 of his 11 targets for 142 yards — eight of which resulted in a first down. The wideout forced three missed tackles and 57 of his 142 yards came after the catch.

TE Jake Tonges — 61.1

After only being targeted 16 times in his entire NFL career, Tonges caught seven of his 11 targets for 41 yards and a touchdown — the third of his career.

Offensive line

The offensive line allowed 16 pressures which might seem like a lot until you take note that the Rams’ defense pressured Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones 25 times in Week 4.

LT Trent Williams – two hits, one hurry

LG Connor Colby – one sack, two hits, one hurry

C Jake Brendel – one hit, one hurry

RG Dominick Puni – three hurries

RT Colton McKivitz – one sack, two hits, one hurry 


Connor Colby has allowed 14 QB pressures on the season which ties him for the most of any guard. All 14 pressures have come in the last three weeks.

DEFENSE

Quarterback pressures: 


Bryce Huff — one sack, three hurries

Sam Okuayinonu – two hurries

Jordan Elliott – two hurries

Yetur Gross-Matos – two hurries

Mykel Williams – one hurry

CJ West – one hurry

Ji’Ayir Brown – one hurry

Alfred Collins – one hit

Upton Stout – one hurry

Jason Pinnock – one hurry

While several of the defensive backs got pressure on Matthew Stafford, defense only blitzed on 17.6 percent of the quarterback’s drop backs. Stafford was under pressure on just 14 of his 48 dropbacks or 29.2 percent.

After missing seven tackles Week 4 the defensive was only charged with four missed tackles in Los Angeles – Marques Sigle, Sam Okuayinonu, Dee Winters and Fred Warner each missed one.

DL Alfred Collins — 85.0

The rookie was on the field for 40 defensive snaps and not only registered one quarterback hit but a forced fumble and recovery at the goal line to help seal the win.

DL Yetur Gross-Matos – 89.5

Before Gross-Matos exited the game with a hamstring injury, the lineman was on the field for 11 snaps registering two hurries and a batted down pass.

Los Angeles Rams Puka Nacua was limited to under 100 yards receiving but the 49ers coverage overall was challenged. 

Marques Sigle — 34.1 coverage grade, allowed six catches on seven targets for 136 yards, but did break up one pass.

Upton Stout –  29.0 coverage grade, allowed seven catches on eight targets for 86 yards

Dee Winters –  28.4 coverage grade, allowed nine catches on 11 targets for 83 yards 

Special Teams

Eddy Pineiro kicked a perfect four of four and his 59-yard field goal was a career long. He is now 13-for-16 on field goals of 50 yards or longer over his career. 

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