49ers Make NFL History in Australia With 27-7 Rout of Rams.
MELBOURNE, Australia — The San Francisco 49ers turned the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia into a statement victory. Behind three touchdown passes from Brock Purdy and a defense that consistently frustrated Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco rolled to a 27-7 victory Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of 100,021 fans. The historic matchup gave Australian fans their first regular-season NFL game on home soil, but it quickly became a one-sided affair. Purdy finished with 205 passing yards and connected with Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel for touchdowns as San Francisco scored the final 24 points of the game. The 49ers' preparation for the unusual trip appeared to pay dividends. San Francisco arrived in Melbourne roughly a week before kickoff, giving the team additional time to adjust to the time difference and settle into the environment. The Rams, meanwhile, arrived just 28 hours before the game. Evans, making his 49ers debut, finished with six receptions and said the early arrival helped the team adapt.
“It was definitely worth it to come a little bit early,” Evans said. “We definitely got acclimated. ... All the guys attacked it. We didn’t complain. We actually enjoyed being here in Melbourne.”
San Francisco defense sets the tone
The 49ers' offense eventually found its rhythm, but their defense was arguably the biggest story of the afternoon. Stafford, the reigning NFL MVP, completed just 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown. Los Angeles managed only 290 total yards as San Francisco repeatedly disrupted drives. The Rams had an opportunity to make things interesting in the third quarter after reaching the San Francisco 1-yard line. But the 49ers stopped Stafford on a fourth-down quarterback sneak, preserving their momentum. San Francisco's defensive unit is now being coordinated by Raheem Morris, who previously served as the Rams' defensive coordinator. Stafford acknowledged afterward that Los Angeles never found the consistency it needed.
“Probably only had two good drives, to be honest,” Stafford said. “Not enough good stuff on offense. We didn't do the things that we're accustomed to doing. Too many times, we were on different pages. That starts with me.”
Rams strike first, but 49ers answer
Neither offense looked particularly sharp early, understandable given the 10:35 a.m. local kickoff. Los Angeles finally broke through when Kyren Williams scored on a 5-yard run early in the second quarter, producing the first NFL touchdown in Australia. The lead didn't last.
Purdy responded by connecting with Robinson on a 39-yard touchdown pass, giving San Francisco its first lead and shifting the momentum. The 49ers carried that momentum into the second half. Samuel opened the third quarter with a 45-yard kickoff return, setting up the offense for another scoring opportunity. Purdy then found Evans for a touchdown against newly acquired Rams cornerback Jaylen Watson. Los Angeles appeared poised to answer when it drove deep into San Francisco territory. Puka Nacua was ruled down just short of the goal line, however, and the 49ers' defense held Stafford and the Rams out of the end zone.
San Francisco then delivered the knockout blow. The 49ers marched 99 yards on the ensuing possession, with Purdy finishing the drive by finding Samuel for another touchdown.
Garrett struggles in Rams debut
The highly anticipated Rams debut of Myles Garrett was a quiet one.
Garrett, the reigning AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, recorded no tackles after missing much of training camp while dealing with knee issues.
Following the loss, Garrett admitted he was not operating at full strength.
“This was the worst version of myself that I’ve put out there, and I’ve got to be better,” Garrett said.
Meanwhile, San Francisco received significant contributions from Fred Warner and Nick Bosa, who both made their presence felt in their returns from lengthy injury absences.
Travel strategy becomes a major talking point
The contrasting travel schedules between the NFC West rivals will likely remain a major discussion point following the game. San Francisco embraced the trip, spending an additional week in Melbourne and adjusting to the local time zone. Los Angeles stayed in California until shortly before traveling to Australia, allowing its players to maintain their normal body clocks for much of the preparation. Rams coach Sean McVay accepted responsibility for the team's preparation but rejected the idea that the travel schedule alone explained the loss.
“I know there’s gonna be a lot of narratives that appropriately put the blame on me, and then we’ll move forward the right way,” McVay said. “I don’t believe (the travel plan) is why we didn’t play well enough. I really don’t.”
For the 49ers, the historic trip couldn't have gone much better. San Francisco not only became the winner of the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia, but also opened the season with a commanding victory over a division rival that entered the matchup with legitimate Super Bowl expectations.
What's next
The 49ers return home to host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept. 20.
The Rams will look to rebound when they host the New York Giants on Monday, Sept. 21.
