The San Francisco 49ers are already on another continent for Week 1, having taken off last night, September 2, 2026, at 11:45 p.m. PT for their game against the Rams. That’s right, their season basically started a full week early with a grueling nearly 15-hour flight to Melbourne, Australia! By the time you read this, they’re probably still in the air, or just touching down around 7:31 a.m. AEST on Friday morning which is 5:31 p.m. ET on Thursday for us. Talk about a brutal way to kick off a season!
Across the Globe for Week 1
While the 49ers are definitely putting in the air miles, the Rams are playing this whole international thing totally differently. They aren’t even leaving until next week and they’re only planning to spend less than 24 hours in Melbourne. That’s a bold move, right? This travel strategy by the Rams is fascinating because it could actually change how NFL teams approach international games from now on. We’ve seen teams struggle with jet lag and travel fatigue overseas, so if the Rams come out fresh and dominate after their short-stay plan, every other team, and maybe even the league, will be watching. It’s a huge gamble, but it could pay off big.
Early Super Bowl Chatter: Who’s in, Who’s Out?
Beyond the wild international travel, the early buzz on who’s actually got a shot at hoisting the Lombardi has started heating up. Carter Bahns broke down all 32 teams into tiers based on their Super Bowl chances, and there are some real eye-openers already. The **Rams** are pegged as “Super Bowl or bust,” which makes sense with their roster. The **Bills** got close last year in ’25 and are looking to break through in ’26, shaking things up by firing Sean McDermott and elevating Joe Brady to head coach. That move should keep Josh Allen and the offense firing on all cylinders, but we gotta see if it fixes those defensive lapses.
Then you’ve got the **Chargers**, who have “legitimate championship aspirations” now that their offensive line isn’t completely decimated, which is huge for them. The **Cowboys** are in the “make the playoffs, then we’ll talk” tier, but they’re considered the team with the best chance to climb. Their offense was second in yardage and seventh in scoring last year, so they should be potent. On the other end, the **Titans** are probably looking at a sub-.500 season, even though everything seems to be in place for them to leap into the next echelon. That “wait-and-see” approach is smart after Robert Saleh’s starting defense absolutely floundered in the preseason.
So, Week 1 isn’t just about football, it’s about endurance, strategy, and setting the tone for potential Super Bowl runs. That 49ers-Rams game in Australia is gonna be fascinating for so many reasons, from the travel implications to who actually comes out swinging after such different preparations.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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