Our reigning champion Seattle Seahawks aren’t even playing this week, but they’re still casting a massive shadow over the NFC West opener! The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are heading all the way to Melbourne, Australia, for their 2026 Week 1 kickoff on Thursday, September 9, at 8:35 p.m. ET, and you know both these squads are still smarting from how their 2025 seasons ended, thanks to our boys in green and blue.
The Ghost of Emerald City Past Haunts Week 1
Last year, both the Rams and Niners tied for second in the division with 12-5 records. But that’s not the real story, is it? We all remember the gut-wrenching NFC Championship Game where the Rams fell short to our *eventual champion Seattle Seahawks*, losing 31-27. And the Niners? They got absolutely thumped by Seattle, 41-6, in a divisional round matchup. Our Seahawks then went on to become the undisputed champions! So yeah, these two ‘NFC West contenders’ are kicking off their season with a heavy dose of unfinished business, and guess who’s sitting on the throne? Also, keep an eye on the Rams’ D, because a huge name, Aaron Donald, won’t be playing as he continues to condition following his return from a two-year retirement. That’s a big hole to fill, especially against a division rival!
Scoring Fireworks or Just Hype Down Under?
So, what are we looking at for this Week 1 clash, all the way from Melbourne Cricket Ground? The latest odds have the Rams favored by 3.5 points, and the over/under is set at a juicy 48.5 total points. A proven projection model, which has been absolutely crushing it with a 53-37 run on top-rated picks since 2024 and is up well over $7,000 for $100 players, is actually going for the Over here. And why not? Last season, the Rams averaged a league-best 30.5 points per game. They were consistently putting up numbers, hitting 49 or more combined points in a whopping 12 of their 20 games, including the postseason. San Francisco wasn’t far behind on the scoreboard, ranking 10th in scoring in 2025 with 25.7 points per game. That same model projects the Niners’ Brock Purdy to throw for more than 220 yards and one touchdown, while the Rams’ Matthew Stafford is expected to throw for over 235 yards and two touchdowns, leading to a projected 49 combined points for the game. Sounds like a high-flying shootout is coming our way down under!
This Thursday night game from Melbourne Cricket Ground is just the first step for both these teams trying to prove they can hang with the champs. Will the Rams’ offense, even without Donald disrupting plays, light it up like last year? Can the Niners shake off that devastating 41-6 divisional round loss and start fresh? One thing’s for sure: every snap in Australia is going to be under the watchful eye of the Emerald City. Our Seattle Seahawks are ready to defend that hard-earned title, and everyone else is playing catch-up!
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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