Rams' travel gamble could give 49ers the edge in Thursday Night Football's Australia opener
Patriots vs. Seahawks preview, 49ers vs. Rams, Will Drake Maye have a statement game? | FTF
The New England Patriots open up the 2026/27 NFL season in a Super Bowl LX rematch with the Seattle Seahawks. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes ask if Drake Maye can have a statement game, what another good season would mean for Sam Darnold being elite, and if Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers can outplay Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams.
Goo’day mate, shall we throw a bet on the barby? If you don’t understand the reason for that opener, then you might want to double-check your location for this game. The NFL is heading to Australia for the game today between the 49ers and Rams, which means we have our first Thursday Night Football action of the new season.
The San Francisco 49ers had a rather disappointing end to their 2025 season. They went into the playoffs looking like one of the more complete teams in football, and they were rinsed by the Seahawks basically from opening kickoff. This year they come in healthy, but there are an awful lot of questionable designations next to their lineup. They have six players on offense, including Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans, and George Kittle, listed as questionable.
The Los Angeles Rams line up against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 2, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Their defense isn’t looking much better, with five guys listed, including Nick Bosa. Fred Warner is healthy, though, so that’s a good sign. If the team is fully healthy, it should be among the better in football. Even when the 49ers haven’t been healthy, they’ve had a strong next-man-up attitude that has made them stay in contention.
INJURY BUG BITES 49ERS AGAIN AS TEAM LOSES KEY DEFENSIVE TACKLE DURING PRACTICE IN AUSTRALIA
The Los Angeles Rams are a super team. It is almost comical looking at their roster. If the Pro Bowl was a thing, you’d basically call this roster a Pro Bowl roster. They were the only team to put up a true fight against Seattle in the playoffs, and they lost a back-and-forth battle. In the offseason, they added Myles Garrett via trade, and then that drew Aaron Donald out of retirement. A bit of good fortune for the 49ers is that Donald will not suit up.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass during an NFL football game against the New York Jets Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Offensively, the Rams are still one of the most elite teams in football. It hinges on the health of Matthew Stafford, but he is coming off of an MVP season and arguably the best one of his career. He still has Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to throw the ball to. The team is extremely deep, and the Rams have a creative coach that won’t let them rest on offense.
This game being in Melbourne does throw a wrench into the betting strategy. If it was in Los Angeles, the Rams would probably be -4.5 favorites, and you probably just take them and move on. Instead, the game is overseas. Travel plays a major factor in this game. The 49ers flew to Australia a week ago and will be completely adjusted to the time difference.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, middle, passes while pressured by the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, California, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
SEAN MCVAY EXPECTS EVERY RAMS PLAYER TO BE ON FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA FOR WEEK 1, INCLUDING AARON DONALD
The Rams, however, flew on Tuesday. That means they essentially land, then sleep, wake up, and play football. It is a 14-16 hour flight. They are also leaving two hours after the game is over. It is an interesting strategy, but the team apparently doesn’t want them to adjust. Traveling internationally is difficult. I expect the Rams to start rather slowly. The 49ers should have the upper hand at least through the first half of the game, as the Rams' bodies will still be off. Give me the 49ers with the points in this game. I just don’t think the Rams will ever get the separation needed, but they should win the game.
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