Was it Jetlagged or were the Rams outplayed in season opener

The Los Angeles Rams opened the 2026 NFL season on a disappointing note Thursday night, falling 27-7 to the San Francisco 49ers in the league’s first regular-season game played in Australia.

Playing before a massive crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Rams struggled to establish offensive consistency and were held scoreless throughout the second half as San Francisco pulled away.

Los Angeles briefly grabbed a 7-3 advantage when Kyren Williams scored on a 5-yard run to open the second quarter. The touchdown followed a 41-yard completion from Matthew Stafford to Puka Nacua and gave the Rams their only points of the night.

San Francisco responded before halftime. Brock Purdy connected with former Rams receiver Demarcus Robinson for a 39-yard touchdown, sending the 49ers into the break with a 10-7 advantage.

The game began slipping away from Los Angeles in the third quarter.

Purdy found Mike Evans for a 2-yard touchdown to extend San Francisco’s lead to 17-7. The Rams then appeared poised to answer after driving all the way to the 49ers’ goal line. Nacua was stopped just short of the end zone before Stafford attempted a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal.

San Francisco stuffed Stafford at the goal line.The failed conversion proved to be a major turning point. Instead of cutting into the deficit, Los Angeles watched San Francisco drive the length of the field and effectively put the game away when Purdy escaped pressure and connected with Deebo Samuel Sr. for a 15-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Purdy finished 25-of-34 for 205 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. San Francisco also controlled the game on the ground, rushing for 174 yards while finishing with 379 total yards.

Stafford struggled to find a consistent rhythm. He completed 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards with an interception before Stetson Bennett IV handled the Rams’ final possession.

Nacua provided one of the few bright spots for Los Angeles, catching five passes for 74 yards. Blake Corum led the Rams on the ground with 54 yards on 10 carries, while Williams finished with 41 rushing yards and the team’s lone touchdown.

The Rams finished with 290 total yards and converted only two of nine third-down opportunities. Los Angeles also went just 1-for-3 on fourth down.

The highly anticipated Rams debut of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett was also quiet. Garrett finished without a tackle or quarterback hit as San Francisco largely neutralized one of Los Angeles’ biggest offseason additions.

The 49ers scored the final 24 points after falling behind 7-3 and outscored Los Angeles 17-0 after halftime.

For a Rams team entering the season with high expectations, the opener provided an immediate reality check. Los Angeles now returns home looking to correct its offensive struggles and regroup after being thoroughly outplayed by an NFC West rival on one of the NFL’s biggest international stages.