Twenty points. That’s how much the supposedly “super team” Los Angeles Rams lost by in their season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, and honestly, you gotta look straight at head coach Sean McVay’s travel plan for why it was such a disaster. Forget about any success McVay had with a similar London trip last year. This time, the Rams endured a grueling 16-hour flight from L.A. to Melbourne, Australia, landing a mere 28 hours before kickoff. Meanwhile, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan had his team arrive a full week early. That’s not just a bold strategy by McVay, it was a spectacular failure.
Travel Fails, Injured Stars, and a Zero Stat Line
Adding massive insult to a devastating loss, the Rams also lost their best defensive player, Myles Garrett, for the foreseeable future. Garrett was placed on injured reserve with a left knee injury that had been plaguing him since the start of training camp. He underwent arthroscopic surgery to fix the issue and is now out at least four weeks. And his Week 1 stat line? Get this: no tackles, no sacks, and just one single pressure. That’s for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year! He played 40 of 65 defensive snaps (62%) and six special teams snaps, but it was clear something was off. McVay had characterized Garrett’s pre-game knee issues as more of a “maintenance issue,” but that clearly undersold how serious it was. Josaiah Stewart is stepping in to replace Garrett in the starting lineup, and he posted five combined tackles and a quarterback hit in his 28 defensive snaps.
Offense Stalls, Defense Crumbles, and the Shanahan Effect
This whole situation shines a spotlight on Shanahan’s brilliance. He showed exactly why he’s considered one of the best playcallers in the league, effectively taking Garrett out of the game. He’s done similar things to Aaron Donald in past matchups, running the opposite direction of the two-time Defensive Player of the Year and hitting screens behind him. He pulled the same trick on Garrett. Speaking of Donald, McVay admitted he still doesn’t know if his other future Hall of Famer will even play in Week 2. L.A.’s “revamped defense” was hyped as the “best in the NFL” this offseason, but they couldn’t stop the 49ers’ “aging playmakers.” Even worse, their “potent offense,” which led the league in scoring in 2025 and is still led by reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, managed just seven points. The Rams were anointed a “super team” this offseason, even appearing on “60 Minutes,” with McVay trying to guard against complacency. But after laying such a huge egg on national television in the league’s first international game Down Under, McVay just wants to get back to business.
Now, the Rams have to turn around and prepare for Week 2 against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football. Will Donald be back? Can they even remotely salvage the season after such a catastrophic start? It’s going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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