The 49ers’ season opener comes with plenty of noise, and not just because it’s a Week 1 division matchup. San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams will meet at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in the first regular-season game ever played in Australia, a setting that adds another layer to a game already loaded with NFC West implications.
The Rams arrive with the kind of offseason that gets people talking. Evan Craig of Turf Show Times sees Los Angeles as aggressive, even if that approach comes with risk.
He pointed to the team’s splashes, including the additions of Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson and Myles Garrett, as moves that reshaped the roster and pushed the Rams into Super Bowl favorite territory. At the same time, he acknowledged the roster looks top-heavy and said the biggest concern is depth, especially at wide receiver behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
He also said Tutu Atwell doesn’t really solve that issue, calling the WR3 spot the clearest hole on the roster.
One of the biggest storylines in this opener is Aaron Donald’s return. Donald will not play in Week 1, and Craig cautioned Rams fans not to expect an instant return to his old form.
In his view, Donald should be eased back with a snap count early in the year before the workload increases. The expectation is that Donald and Garrett will eventually become a dangerous pairing, but not right away.
Craig also thinks their presence will help players like Kobie Turner and Byron Young by drawing extra attention from opposing offenses.
Beyond the stars, Craig highlighted a couple of names that could matter as the season goes on. Rookie wide receiver CJ Daniels made noise in the preseason, finishing his last two games against the Saints and Chargers with 13 catches for 110 yards on 19 targets.
He became a reliable option for rookie Ty Simpson and could earn more chances as he develops. Second-year tight end Terrance Ferguson was another player he singled out, saying the Rams will have him on the field plenty this season.
As for the big picture, Craig believes the Rams have the talent to finish with the top seed in the NFC if they stay healthy and everything comes together. He still gave Seattle the edge in one important sense: the Seahawks remain the team to beat until someone proves otherwise.
He pointed back to last season, when Los Angeles looked like the better team on paper before Seattle beat them twice to close the year. In his view, the Rams still need to show they can win the biggest games and actually beat the Seahawks before claiming anything.
For Monday’s opener, Craig thinks the travel could be a real problem. He called the Rams’ trip to Australia a bold and risky move and said the long flight could leave the team sluggish early.
Even with Los Angeles favored by 3.5 points at FanDuel Sportsbook, he said he wouldn’t be shocked if the 49ers pulled it out. His expectation is that the Rams will rally after a slow start, but not enough to finish the job.
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Rams Fans Face An Unusual Week 1 Problem Against The 49ers
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For Netflix, it is the first time the service will carry a Thursday Night Football game outside of Christmas Day after its renewed deal with the league. Pregame coverage is set for 6:30 p.m. ET, with Noah Eagle and Luke Kuechly on the broadcast team, so anyone hoping to catch San Francisco and Los Angeles in the opener will need to find the app before they find the couch. [Read more 🡒]