49ers vs. Rams in Australia came with plenty of spectacle as the NFL staged its first regular-season game Down Under. Unfortunately, the football never quite matched it. If the loss wasn’t bad enough, news that Myles Garrett will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee and will be placed on injured reserve for at least four games doesn’t help. Tom Pelissero writes, “Garrett has been dealing with lower-leg pain and wasn’t himself in Thursday’s opener. The hope is he’s back in four weeks.”
The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27–7 on Thursday night, controlling a game that became increasingly one-sided as it progressed. Los Angeles entered the night looking like a team prepared to win with size and physicality, while San Francisco countered with movement, formation variety and an ability to consistently stay ahead of the sticks.
Something also felt noticeably different about the Rams offense. Los Angeles leaned into three-tight-end personnel and a more downhill running game, moving away from some of the wide-zone concepts traditionally associated with Sean McVay’s offense. The Rams tried to become more physical. The 49ers simply looked more comfortable with who they were.
Formation Variety Powered the 49ers’ Win Over the Rams
The 49ers showed plenty of formation variety from the opening quarter. Christian McCaffrey was particularly interesting. On several plays, he aligned in the shotgun roughly six yards outside the tackle, creating an unusual picture for the Rams defense. San Francisco also incorporated fullback orbit motion and repeatedly changed the strength of its formations before the snap.
The purpose wasn’t necessarily to fool Los Angeles with some revolutionary concept. It was to make defenders communicate, identify responsibilities, and adjust their run fits before they could worry about tackling McCaffrey. More importantly, it helped San Francisco stay ahead of the sticks.
The 49ers consistently avoided obvious passing situations that allow a defense to forget about misdirection and attack the quarterback. With manageable down-and-distance, San Francisco could continue using its entire offense. Runs, play-action passes, motion and different McCaffrey alignments all remained legitimate threats.
Los Angeles rarely forced the 49ers out of that comfort zone.
The Rams Looked Different on Offense
The more interesting development on the Los Angeles side wasn’t simply that the offense struggled. It was how the Rams tried to play. McVay’s offenses have traditionally been closely associated with the wide-zone running game, stretching defenses horizontally and creating cutback opportunities while marrying the run game to play-action concepts. That action also helped create misdirection opportunities to attack the perimeter and generate the so-called “explosive plays” that have become such an important part of the modern NFL offense.
On Thursday, the Rams looked considerably more interested in going downhill.
Los Angeles frequently used three-tight-end personnel and incorporated more inside-zone concepts, creating additional gaps and challenging San Francisco more directly at the line of scrimmage. Rather than stretching the 49ers horizontally and looking for seams, the Rams often appeared intent on moving bodies and getting north.
There is logic behind the change. Heavier personnel can force defenses to respond with bigger packages, while an inside running game can punish lighter fronts built to defend modern passing offenses.
But the Rams never turned that physical approach into control of the game, nor did they consistently use it to establish a threatening play-action attack. Matthew Stafford struggled to establish much rhythm, and Los Angeles couldn’t consistently convert its heavier formations into sustained drives. Once San Francisco built a lead, the Rams were increasingly placed in situations where their preferred physical approach became less useful.
A downhill running game works considerably better when the scoreboard allows you to keep running downhill.
Aaron Donald Didn’t Make The Trip
One of the most anticipated players entering the Rams’ season wasn’t there at all. Aaron Donald did not travel with Los Angeles to Australia, delaying his return to an NFL field after ending his retirement and rejoining the Rams before the season.
His absence was notable considering how much attention Los Angeles’ defense received during the offseason. Donald’s return added another potentially dominant interior defender to a unit carrying considerable expectations in 2026.
Thursday, therefore, wasn’t our first real look at what the revamped Rams defense can eventually become. Until Donald joins the lineup, Los Angeles is still playing without one of the most intriguing pieces of its defensive plan. San Francisco took advantage of the group that was available.
49ers vs Rams: Australia Was a Flat NFL Debut
The NFL certainly tried to make its Australian debut feel like an event. Roger Goodell appeared before the game wearing a jacket featuring a kangaroo head, which was perhaps a little more commitment to the theme than anyone required. And while the Jonas Brothers ran a respectable medley of their catalogue, the actual game provided considerably less entertainment.
San Francisco deserves credit for that. The 49ers didn’t win because of one spectacular concept or overwhelming individual performance. They repeatedly manipulated formations, moved McCaffrey around the field and kept themselves in favorable down-and-distance situations.
Los Angeles presented a fascinating contrast. The Rams appeared to be simplifying offensively, leaning into heavier personnel and a more direct inside running game rather than relying as heavily on the wide-zone identity historically associated with McVay.
Whether that shift proves effective over the course of the season remains to be seen. On Thursday night, it wasn’t enough.
For the NFL, a competitive fourth quarter probably would have made for a better Australian debut.
For San Francisco, a 27–7 win will do just fine.
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