The Los Angeles Rams started their 2026 season on a sour note this week, falling to the San Francisco 49ers 27-7 in Melbourne, Australia. The highly anticipated season opener, played in front of more than 100,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, saw the Rams struggling from the outset, leading to immediate scrutiny of Coach Sean McVay's travel strategy.
While the San Francisco 49ers had arrived in Australia a week before the game, the Rams landed just 28 hours before kickoff. This decision, aimed at keeping players on California time for the Melbourne morning start, drew criticism even before the game. By Thursday, it appeared the 49ers' more traditional approach had paid off, as they “energetically dominated” a Rams team that “exhaustedly despaired.”
Following the loss, McVay acknowledged the situation, stating, “This is a humbling day for us.” He added that he expected “a lot of narratives that appropriately put the blame on me.” This accountability extended to a pivotal moment in the third quarter when the Rams, trailing 17-7, had a crucial fourth-and-goal from the 49ers’ one-yard line. Instead of opting for prolific red-zone receiver Davante Adams or scoring machine Kyren Williams, McVay called a quarterback sneak for 38-year-old Matthew Stafford. Stafford, notably, had not scored a rushing touchdown in four years and was 0-for-2 on fourth-down sneaks the previous season. The 49ers defense held, and subsequently drove 99 yards for a touchdown that effectively sealed their victory.
McVay reiterated his commitment to improvement, saying, “The first thing I look at is where can I improve?” and “Where can I put our players in better positions to have successful outcomes?” Stafford also took responsibility for the play, stating, “I’ve just got to find a way to get in.”
Stafford’s overall performance was uncharacteristically poor, marking only the second time in his last 85 starts that he was held under 10 points. He completed just 155 yards, throwing no touchdowns and one interception, and missed seven of his first 11 passes. Despite appearances, Stafford dismissed the idea that jet lag influenced his play. “When the ball was kicked off we were ready to play,” he said, adding, “We just didn’t do it at a high enough clip today.” McVay echoed this sentiment, arguing, “I don’t believe that’s why we didn’t play well enough, I really don’t,” and acknowledged that the 49ers “outplayed us in every phase.”
Among those struggling was star offseason addition Myles Garrett, who was described as “The Most Irrelevant Player Of This Game.” Garrett recorded no sacks or quarterback hits, a rare occurrence marking only the third time in two years he was shut out in both categories. He also attributed the poor performance to execution rather than travel, stating, “I don’t doubt the decision making of my coach and organization, I think they did what was best for us and we didn’t execute on the field when we needed to.” Garrett further disclosed that he was affected by a persistent sore left knee, expressing frustration, “This was the worst version of myself that I put out there.” He added, “I’ve got to find a way to recover and get back to the player I can be.”
The Rams’ travel strategy for such a quick turnaround had been deemed “crazy” by many critics, though the team had successfully deployed a similar quick stop in London the previous year, resulting in a victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. This time, however, the early-arriving 49ers and the critics seemed to be proven right.
Notably absent from the trip was recently un-retired star Aaron Donald, though he is expected to join Garrett for the home opener against the New York Giants in 11 days. Despite the humbling defeat, the Rams are still considered formidable, and widely seen as Super Bowl favorites, suggesting this opener may be an anomaly rather than a trend. The team now has extended rest before their next game, which could help in their recovery.
