The Los Angeles Rams are three weeks away from playing the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, a huge moment as the NFL looks to expand its global footprint. This upcoming season opener will be their first international game played outside London, and it’s got everyone talking about how the Rams have stacked up overseas. Turns out, they’re sitting on a quiet 3-2 record in the NFL International Series, tying them with the Patriots and Raiders for five games played internationally. Only the Jaguars, Dolphins, and Vikings have played more. But here’s the kicker: they’re on a three-game overseas winning streak, all under the Sean McVay era!
From St. Louis Struggles to Sean McVay’s Overseas Turnaround
Before McVay stepped in, the Rams’ international showings were, well, a little rough. Back in 2012, as the St. Louis Rams, they opened the scoring against the Patriots, but that was it. Tom Brady and New England went on a tear, scoring on their first five possessions and building a 28-7 halftime lead. Brady tossed four touchdowns, two to Rob Gronkowski, who racked up 146 yards. A 45-7 beatdown. Oof. Fast forward to 2016, and the now-LA Rams faced the Giants. It was competitive, but ugly, with Case Keenum throwing four picks, two to Giants safety Landon Collins, who took one 44 yards for a pick-six that tied the game. The Giants were outgained by 113 yards, but those turnovers absolutely killed the Rams. Keenum was benched for rookie Jared Goff just weeks later.
Cooper Kupp’s Monster Day and Rams’ Overseas Dominance
Then came McVay, and everything clicked overseas. Their first victory? A dominant 33-0 shutout against the rival Cardinals in 2017. The Rams absolutely suffocated Arizona, outgaining them 425-196 and holding the ball for almost 40 minutes. The Cards, with an aging Adrian Peterson in the backfield, only managed a pathetic 25 rushing yards. Zoo-wee mama, that’s dominance! That win was a springboard, propelling them to a surprise NFC West title in McVay’s inaugural season. Then, in 2019, it was the Cooper Kupp show against the winless Bengals. Kupp went absolutely bonkers, torching Cincinnati for a ridiculous 220 receiving yards on seven catches, with 165 of those coming before halftime. Talk about a highlight reel! This three-game streak under McVay shows this team knows how to get it done when they travel.
So, with the Rams heading to Australia for their season opener against the 49ers, it’s not just another game. It’s their first time opening the season outside of London, and they’re carrying some serious international momentum from the McVay era. Can they keep that overseas win streak alive and start the season with a bang down under? You know all eyes will be on that one!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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