The 49ers and Rams are set to open their season in a way Thursday Night Football rarely has: on Netflix.
For a long stretch, the NFL’s Thursday showcase lived between NFL Network and Amazon Prime. This week, though, the spotlight shifts to streaming’s biggest stage as San Francisco and Los Angeles meet in Melbourne, Australia.
The game is drawing attention for more than the platform. Both teams see themselves as Super Bowl contenders, and sack specialist Myles Garrett is scheduled to make his long-awaited Los Angeles debut.
Netflix’s role in the NFL has grown quickly. The company first struck a deal with the league in March 2024 to carry select games, but those broadcasts were limited to Christmas Day matchups. Those games made noise, too, with Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Snoop Dogg helping drive record streaming numbers.
The arrangement expanded in May 2026 when Netflix renewed its contract with the NFL and gained the ability to air games outside the Christmas window for the first time. 49ers-Rams is the first of five games Netflix will show this season, and two of those will also be played outside the holiday period.
The game is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. Pregame coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. ET, and the matchup will air exclusively on Netflix.
There is no TV channel for the game, so anyone hoping to watch will need a Netflix subscription.
Noah Eagle will handle play-by-play, with Luke Kuechly as the lead analyst. The pregame, halftime and postgame coverage will feature Elle Duncan, Michael Irvin, Nick Foles and Clay Matthews. Tom Pelissero and MJ Acosta-Ruiz will work as sideline reporters.
In Other News...
Rams Suddenly Face A Tight End Problem After Scary Opener Injury
The Rams season opener against the 49ers took an early turn on a familiar kind of problem for Sean McVays offense: losing a tight end in the middle of the game. Davis Allen took a hard hit in the third quarter, was evaluated for a concussion and eventually carted off the field, leaving Los Angeles to sort through the rest of the day without one of its more useful options at the position.
Allens status was listed as questionable to return, and even if the setback proves temporary, it puts a little more weight on the depth chart heading into the next stretch. The Rams will need more from the other tight ends if Allen cant get back on the field soon, especially in an offense that likes to lean on that group for both protection and passing-game versatility. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Face A Brutal Pregame Swing Against San Francisco
The Rams pregame picture for Melbourne just got tougher on one side and a little more complicated on the other. San Francisco tight end George Kittle has been cleared and taken off the injury list, while Los Angeles will be without Aaron Donald, a notable absence for a defense that usually leans on him to change the games rhythm.
Kyle Shanahan has already said Kittle and Nick Bosa will have limited playing time as the 49ers ease them back from major injuries, which adds another layer to a matchup that was never going to be simple. For the Rams, the challenge is obvious enough: face a division rival on a long trip, with one of the leagues most disruptive defenders unavailable and San Francisco getting a key weapon back in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Donald's Comeback Starts With A Rams Reality Fans Won't Love
Aaron Donald wont be part of the Rams Week 1 group in Australia, a reminder that his return to the field is still in the early stages even after the comeback announcement gave Los Angeles a jolt of optimism. The veteran defensive star did not travel with the team for its game against the 49ers, and the Rams are taking a patient approach as he works back into football shape after coming out of retirement.
For a defense that has long leaned on Donald as its centerpiece, the wait is the reality fans were hoping to avoid, even if it was always part of the plan. Donald last played in the NFL in 2023, and the earliest expectation for his return is Week 2, leaving the Rams to navigate the opener without one of the most important players in franchise history. [Read more 🡒]