The NFL’s international trip after opening night sends an NFC West matchup to Melbourne, where the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams meet Thursday night in Australia.
The Rams arrive with plenty of buzz and the betting market has treated them like a powerhouse. After a season in which there was a strong argument that they were the league’s second-best team, they spent the offseason loading up. They traded for Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, added Trent McDuffie from the Kansas City Chiefs, and got Aaron Donald to come out of retirement.
That kind of roster shakeup has pushed the Rams into Super Bowl favorite territory, and they’re favored in this one against a divisional opponent. Garrett will make his Rams debut in Australia after a year in which he posted 23 sacks and three forced fumbles. At 30 years old, he still has plenty left, and San Francisco is going to have to send extra attention his way all night.
Even with all the heat around Los Angeles, this is a spot where the 49ers are drawing support. They dealt with brutal injury luck last season and still finished 10th in DVOA. This year, they enter relatively healthy, and the expectation is that they can outperform where the market has them pegged.
There’s also the travel wrinkle. The Rams plan to do a “drive-by,” arriving and then playing right away instead of getting there a few days early to acclimatize. That’s a gamble in itself, and it adds another reason to be cautious about backing the favorite.
The play in this one is taking the 49ers with the points. In a game with more than a field goal on the line, San Francisco looks like the side to grab in Melbourne.
In Other News...
Grant Cohn Is Somehow Becoming Part Of The 49ers Opener Story
The 49ers trip to Australia for their international opener against the Rams has produced the usual flood of game-week content, but one familiar Bay Area voice has become part of the conversation for a different reason. Grant Cohn, the veteran reporter known for his sharp criticism of San Francisco, has drawn attention overseas not for a practice note or matchup breakdown, but for the way he has documented the experience around the game.
His social media posts about local food and cultural stops have caught on with audiences well beyond the standard football crowd, turning a routine road assignment into something of a sideshow. Cohn has long been a polarizing figure around the 49ers because of his public clashes with players and the confrontational style he often brings to his coverage, and now even that reputation is being folded into a story that started with the opener itself. [Read more 🡒]
Deebo Samuels New Role Puts 49ers Rookie In Week 1 Spotlight
DeZhaun Stribling has quietly climbed into a meaningful spot on the 49ers preseason depth chart, and the timing could not be better for a team sorting through injuries and shifting roles at receiver before Week 1 against the Rams. The rookie has moved up enough to be considered for a significant offensive role, and the latest chart points to him lining up as a starting wideout alongside Mike Evans.
Deebo Samuels designation as the primary kick returner adds another layer to the picture, hinting at a reduced load on offense and opening the door for Stribling to see real early-season snaps. For a San Francisco passing game already adjusting on the fly, the rookies next chance may come right away, and it will be worth watching how quickly the staff leans into that opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
49ers First Injury Report Raises An Early Lineup Concern
The first injury report of the season gave the 49ers an immediate dose of reality, with several familiar names showing up before the week has even really settled in. Nick Bosa and George Kittle were both listed, and the report also brought a new concern on the defensive side when rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins appeared for the first time with a knee injury. It is the kind of early-week update that can quickly shape how a staff approaches practice, especially when core pieces are already under the microscope.
For now, the encouraging part is who was not there. Christian McCaffrey was absent from the report, and Mike Evans also did not appear, which helps keep at least some of the focus on the players who are actually dealing with issues. Still, Collins new injury designation stands out as the one to monitor, because even in September, the 49ers know how quickly a depth concern can become a bigger storyline if it lingers. [Read more 🡒]