All articles tagged with #melbourne
After a 27-7 loss to the 49ers in Melbourne, Rams coach Sean McVay said he hopes the team never plays in Australia again, a quip that clashes with the Rams’ international marketing footprint. Los Angeles shifts focus to hosting the Giants, while QB Matthew Stafford and WR Davante Adams downplayed the travel’s impact.
The 49ers defeated the Rams 27-7 in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, after a meticulously planned travel-and-rest strategy that used circadian-shift sleep schedules, melatonin, and caffeine; the approach helped players like Kyle Juszczyk perform despite long travel, while Brock Purdy and the defense contributed to a dominant performance, and the league plans to debrief for future international trips.
After a 27-7 win in Melbourne, the 49ers slept through most of their 14-hour flight home and arrived in the Bay Area refreshed for their Sunday home opener against the Miami Dolphins, with players saying the trip was quiet and they’re back to their routine.
San Francisco beat the Rams 27-7 in Melbourne, riding a late defensive stand by Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner to swing momentum. Deebo Samuel led with six receptions, a 45-yard kickoff return, and a 15-yard TD on an 11-play, 99-yard drive that iced the game, while Brock Purdy also connected for a 39-yard TD to Demarcus Robinson. Nick Bosa and George Kittle returned from injuries on limited snaps and contributed, as the Rams, who flew in about 25 hours earlier, faded late.
The 49ers opened the 2026 season with a 27-7 win over the Rams in Melbourne, and Nick Bosa revealed the game ball went to their strength and conditioning coach Dustin Perry for the week-long Australia trip that helped the team acclimate to the time zone and travel; aside from minor injuries to Jake Tonges and De’Zhaun Stribling, San Francisco heads home with momentum for Week 2 against the Dolphins, having added players like Mike Evans, Dre Greenlaw and Osa Odighizuwa in the offseason.
San Francisco rolled to a 27-7 victory over the Rams in Melbourne, spurred by the returns of George Kittle and Nick Bosa. Bosa set the tone with an early hit, Brock Purdy connected on a 44-yard strike to Demarcus Robinson and later guided a 99-yard drive that ended with a fade TD to Mike Evans, while the run game thrived against a nickel-focused LA defense. The win electrified a Melbourne crowd and signaled a growing Bay Area–Australia sports bond, with the 49ers’ offense and swagger back at full strength.
In the NFL’s first game in Australia, the San Francisco 49ers beat the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in Melbourne after arriving a week early to beat jet lag, while the Rams flew in about 28 hours before kickoff to keep a domestic schedule. Sleep experts argue the early-arrival approach better restores the body to a new time zone, and the 49ers seized momentum after halftime, pulling away as the Rams faded.
The Rams’ travel plan to Australia backfired as they landed just 28 hours before kickoff and were routed 27-7 by the San Francisco 49ers, who had been in Melbourne all week. Brock Purdy led a dominant performance while Matthew Stafford struggled (under 10 points, 155 yards, 1 INT) and a fourth‑down sneak at the 1-yard line by Stafford helped seal the loss after a 99-yard 49ers drive. Myles Garrett largely disappeared and even though Aaron Donald didn’t travel, the debacle has sparked renewed scrutiny of Sean McVay’s travel decisions, although LA remains considered a Super Bowl contender going forward.”,
Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes as the San Francisco 49ers crushed the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in the NFL’s first Melbourne opener, a humbling start for a star-studded Rams squad. Rams coach Sean McVay took the blame for a travel plan that had them arriving a day before the game, while quarterback Matthew Stafford struggled (15 of 25, 155 yards, INT) and star edge rusher Myles Garrett battled a knee issue with no sacks. WRs Puka Nacua (74 receiving yards) and Davante Adams (three catches) provided some production, but the offense stalled and Stafford was pulled late for Stetson Bennett as San Francisco pulled away on a 99-yard third-quarter drive. The Rams regroup and prepare for the Giants next, with questions surrounding Donald’s status and the team’s ability to rebound from the setback.
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in Melbourne, riding a pivotal 99-yard late drive and a sharper prep after relocating to Australia; the jet-lagged Rams struggled to solve a disruptive 49ers defense, while Stafford had a rough night, signaling early NFC West tensions after Week 1.
The 49ers beat the Rams 27-7 in Melbourne, and San Francisco’s social-media team fired back with Australia- and jet lag–themed posts, signaling an advantage in travel acclimation for the season opener.
Rams arrived in Melbourne just a day before facing the 49ers, prompting Davante Adams to say he’d like more time to connect with local fans and highlighting a debate over travel strategies: Rams aim to avoid jet lag with a late arrival while the 49ers acclimate for a week, with kickoff at 10:35 a.m. local time and Netflix streaming the game at 5:35 p.m. PT.
The San Francisco 49ers travel to face the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season for Thursday Night Football on Sept. 10 at 7:35 p.m. CT from the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. The game is broadcast on Netflix, with the Rams listed as the favorite (-200 moneyline) and a -3.5 spread; the over/under is set at 48.5.
The Rams arrived in Melbourne with about 28 hours to acclimate before their Week 1 matchup with the 49ers; head coach Sean McVay said the flight was great and the team looked rested and fresh, with Matthew Stafford noting they slept well, signaling they’ll be ready to play despite the tight travel window.
Aaron Donald, back on the practice field after a two-year hiatus, says he's not yet at his desired level but feels 'pretty damn good' as the Rams weigh his availability for the season opener against the 49ers in Melbourne; coach Sean McVay is cautiously optimistic, noting Donald's progress, while LA plans a Melbourne trip less than 48 hours before kickoff and will decide if he travels and plays.