Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes as the San Francisco 49ers dominated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in the first game of the NFL regular season in Australia.
Purdy passed for 205 yards and scores to Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel in front of 100,021 fans at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, the seventh-largest regular-season crowd in NFL history.
The Rams had entered the 2026 NFL season widely tipped as Super Bowl winners after their successful trade for Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald’s return from retirement. Instead, it would be Purdy and Kyle Shanahan to provide a stark reminder of a fiercely competitive NFC West division.
Australia’s sporting capital enjoyed its first real taste of American football – and in a commanding victory by the 49ers, who had already won the affections of many Australians by traveling to Melbourne a week earlier than the Rams, who landed just 28 hours before kick-off on Thursday morning.
Statistics managers
49 years old:
- Passage: Brock Purdy, 25/34, 205 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
- In a hurry: Christian McCaffrey, 10 carries, 68 yards
- Taking: Demarcus Robinson, 2 catches, 50 yards, 1 TD
Wanted:
- Passage: Matthew Stafford, 15/25, 155 yards, 1 INT
- In a hurry: Blake Corum, 10 carries, 54 yards
- Taking: Puka Nacua, 5 catches, 74 meters
A celebratory atmosphere prevailed even as the Friday morning kickoff was needed to hit the lucrative U.S. primetime television audience. Fans got another memorable chapter in this NFC West rivalry as the 49ers blew away the preseason Super Bowl favorite Rams with superior play on both sides of the ball.
Kyren Williams scored the NFL’s first Australian touchdown on a five-yard run to start the second quarter, but the Rams were a disaster Down Under. Los Angeles hadn’t lost by more than seven points since November 2024.
While Purdy’s offense made enough big plays to win, San Francisco’s defense frustrated NFL MVP Matthew Stafford to a 15-of-25 performance for just 155 yards. The Niners held the NFL’s best offense to one score last season, even stopping Stafford on a fourth-down quarterback rush by San Francisco in the third quarter.
“They outplayed us in every aspect,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “I didn’t do a good enough job. This was a humbling day for us. It will only define us if we let it.
“Sometimes sports can get you down and today was one of those days. I don’t make excuses. If you want to say it was travel, whatever, we just weren’t good enough in that window.”
Garrett was virtually a non-factor in his Rams debut after missing most of training camp with soreness, recording zero tackles. Donald did not make the trip to Australia as he continues to work to get back into football shape following his decision to come out of retirement.
Much of the pregame talk about this road trip focused on the teams’ different methods of preparation: the 49ers indulged their home fans while their body clocks adjusted, while the Rams stayed home until less than two days before kickoff, keeping their body clocks on California time.
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Jeff Reinebold and Phoebe Schecter discuss Myles Garrett’s outlook on the LA Rams and whether he can lead them to Super Bowl glory.
Both teams got off to an understandably slow start for a 10:35 a.m. kickoff, but Williams’ run on the final kickoff had the crowd cheering. The quarterbacks then traded interceptions before Purdy shook off a shaky start and found former Rams wide receiver Robinson on a 39-yard post route.
San Francisco pulled away in the first half, with Samuel’s 45-yard punt return leading to Evans’ interception of Rams rookie cornerback Jaylen Watson.
The Rams drove deep into the red zone, but after Puka Nacua fell inches short of the goal line, the 49ers stuffed Stafford.
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