Get ready for a smackdown in Melbourne because the L.A. Rams are about to carve up the San Francisco 49ers in their Week 1 opener. The reason is crystal clear: the Rams were the better team last season, and they are even more stacked this season, making a big statement right out of the gate in Australia.
Last Year’s Tape Doesn’t Lie
Remember last season’s Week 5? The Niners managed to win 26-23 in overtime. If you only look at the score, it seems like a balanced match, right? No way. That game was anything but. The Rams shot themselves in the foot by missing five scoring opportunities due to self-inflicted errors: two fumbles lost in the red zone (one at the two-yard line!), a blocked PAT, a missed field goal, and a 4th down stop at the Niners’ 11-yard line in overtime. Even though San Francisco was missing a lot of starters and played admirably, the Rams absolutely should have won that game.
Then Week 10 happened. The Rams were just getting their feet wet with their ’13’ personnel offensive scheme, and the Niners had no answer for it. L.A. pulled out to a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter. While the 49ers made it close by the start of the fourth, largely thanks to Mac Jones being almost flawless on short crossing routes, it was soon back to 42-20, and the Rams won 42-26. That kind of offensive firepower is coming for the Niners again.
The Offseason Haul That Changes Everything
Rams GM Les Snead went BIG this offseason. He addressed the team’s greatest weakness by acquiring cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson from the Chiefs. Then he pulled the trigger on the biggest trade of the offseason, bringing Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett into the fold. These two moves are massive. They will allow DC Chris Shula to bring a safety or defensive back into shallow coverage on those crossing patterns that caused problems before, something he was reluctant to do given the pedestrian quality of the Rams’ defensive backs last year. Plus, Garrett’s presence on the line will force Brock Purdy to get rid of the ball much more quickly, especially with San Francisco’s lack of a quality guard on the left side.
And the Niners? They only had a few notable moves: 33-year-old receiver Mike Evans, rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, and defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. When Evans is healthy, he is good, but he has battled injuries for years and even missed valuable time in training camp when he should have been gelling with Purdy. That is a huge question mark for Week 1.
This Thursday night, in the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Rams are rolling in ready to prove they are the superior team. Look for Sean McVay to have better answers for Kyle Shanahan on defense. It could be another blowout win for L.A., setting a powerful tone for their season.
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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