49ers Rout Rams 27-7 in NFL's First Game in Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia - The San Francisco 49ers opened the 2026 NFL season with a commanding 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday in the league's first game in Australia, played before a sold-out crowd of 100,021 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 25 of 34 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Demarcus Robinson, Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel as the 49ers pulled away in the second half. The Rams recorded no sacks against a San Francisco offense that controlled the game after an early deficit. Los Angeles, billed by many as a Super Bowl favorite, managed only a short touchdown run by Kyren Williams early in the second quarter, which briefly gave the Rams a 7-3 lead. San Francisco answered with 24 unanswered points. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, the reigning NFL most valuable player, completed 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards with an interception, and the Rams were held scoreless in the second half. Coach Sean McVay removed Stafford late in the fourth quarter, with backup Stetson Bennett finishing the game.