Greg Cote's Thursday night NFL pick

Greg Cote, Miami Herald on Oct 1, 2025

Published in Football

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GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 5 THURSDAY PICK

49ERS (3-1) at RAMS (3-1)

Line: LAR by 6 1/2.

Cote’s pick: LAR, 24-20.

TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.

NFL Week 5 is christened with a second consecutive NFC West matchup on your prime-time Thursday platter. Wouldn’t overthink this one. Rams have impressed, their only loss an unlucky one to defending-champ Philly, while 49ers were a shaky, unconvincing 3-0 even before losing to Jacksonville last week. Special teams blunders and turnovers have plagued the Niners. Plus no team is more injury-wracked than San Fran, and now there are indications QB Brock Purdy (officially questionable as of Wednesday afternoon) might sit again on a short week after aggravating a hurt toe. So I love L.A. outright here — Matthew Stafford to Puka Nacua is the deadliest combo in the NFL right now. But against a point spread that feels a bit rich, I’m leaning Frans on the cover getting a touchdown. The past four meetings in this rivalry have been decided by one score, and Niners backup arm Mac Jones in two sub appearances this season has outplayed Purdy. Defensively, injury loss of Niners’ Nick Bosa is a crater to fill, but still see Niners with enough on D to keep the final score inside the bet line.

(Note: Betting line courtesy ESPNBet as of midday Wednesday.)