From Newsweek · Matt Audilet · · 1m 30s
The Rams flew in 28 hours early, and it showed
Los Angeles landed in Australia a day before kickoff while San Francisco had a week, and the scoreboard told the story.
In brief
Los Angeles landed in Australia a day before kickoff while San Francisco had a week, and the scoreboard told the story. Jet lag is a game plan decision. The 49ers treated a 10,000 mile trip as prep time, the Rams treated it as a commute. Originally reported by Newsweek.
Two teams, two schedules
The Rams touched down in Australia roughly 24 hours before their Week 1 game against the 49ers. San Francisco had been in Melbourne for a full week.
The 49ers got acclimated
San Francisco used that extra week to adjust to a drastic time change before the international opener. That head start was the whole difference in preparation.
A lopsided Thursday night
The 49ers looked far sharper and won 27-7. Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense bore no resemblance to the unit that led the NFL in 2025.
Stephen A. said it plainly
On Friday's "First Take," Smith went after the travel plan directly, calling it what the rest of the league had been hinting at all week.
“You got there 28 hours before the game. Clearly, that appeared to be a mistake.”
The box score backs it up
Brock Purdy threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns to Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Demarcus Robinson. Stafford managed 155 yards and an interception.
Next up, the Giants
Los Angeles gets a chance to reset in Week 2 against New York on Monday, back on familiar time zones.
What it means
Jet lag is a game plan decision. The 49ers treated a 10,000 mile trip as prep time, the Rams treated it as a commute.
