49ers (0-0) vs Rams (0-0)
When: 5:35 p.m. PT Thursday (10:35 a.m. Friday in Melbourne)
Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
TV/Radio: Netflix (streaming)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 382, 226
Read more Orange County scores and player stats for Tuesday, Sept. 8
Line: Rams by 2.5 points
Notable injury designations
(as of Tuesday’s injury reports, and reports from around the league)
Rams: OUT: DL Aaron Donald (return to play); QUESTIONABLE: LB Grant Stuard (hamstring), CB Jaylen Watson (toe).
49ers: OUT: DL Alfred Collins (patellar tendon); QUESTIONABLE: LB Luke Gifford (knee), CB Renardo Green (hamstring), LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), DE Romello Height (ankle), DT James Thompson (hamstring).
What’s at stake? Playing the season opener in Australia has created more narratives than any international game prior. Which coach had the right travel plan? Rams coach Sean McVay had the Rams arrive in Melbourne the day before kickoff, while 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and his team have been Down Under for nearly a full week. Although McVay said he’s plenty aware of the narratives around team travel, a Week 1 win and a trophy for social media warriors are on the line.
Who’s better? The Rams turned into somewhat of a super team over the offseason: Aaron Donald, Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson replenished what was already a stout defensive operation. Yes, the 49ers still have the likes of quarterback Brock Purdy and do-it-all running back Christian McCaffrey, but even without Donald available, the all-around threat with reigning MVP Matthew Stafford leading the Rams’ offense gives the “home” team in Australia a slight edge in talent.
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Matchup to watch: Rams front seven vs. 49ers offensive line. The aforementioned potential dominance of the Rams’ defensive line, allowing for even Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske to feast with Garrett leading the way in Week 1, will be a handful to the San Francisco blocking group led by left tackle Trent Williams and center Jake Brendel. Can the 49ers hold up when the first look at a Rams’ pass rush comes their way?
Rams win if: McCaffrey struggles to get going against the Rams, while Stafford continues to build on his connection with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams leading into the second season of the dynamic pass-catching pair on the Rams.
Fantasy sleeper: Rams RB Blake Corum. It’s worth tuning into the season opener alone to see how Corum’s unorthodox offseason training – meant to build balance for bouncing off tackles – pays off. If he sees increased carries in 2026, the starting running back role could emerge as his by midseason.
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Prediction: Rams 35, 49ers 28.