The San Francisco 49ers absolutely mauled the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 on Thursday Night Football in Melbourne, dropping 24 unanswered points on their division rivals after going down early. It was a humbling loss for the Rams, honestly, it was embarrassing to watch. After Los Angeles snagged a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter, the Niners just flipped a switch and outscored them 24-0 the rest of the way. Ouch.
The “Better Team” Showed Up in Australia, Rams Looked Like They Just Got Off a Plane
The 49ers were the better team, plain and simple. They put up 379 yards of offense, with Brock Purdy throwing for 205 yards and three touchdowns. That’s a massive statement from him, becoming the first San Francisco quarterback with three passing scores in a season opener since Colin Kaepernick back in 2013. And talk about debuts: Mike Evans, in his first game with the 49ers, snagged six receptions for 49 yards and a score. Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford was off, Myles Garrett didn’t make a tangible impact, and Rams coach Sean McVay got outcoached. The Rams looked tired, too, which kinda makes sense when the 49ers spent a week acclimating to Melbourne, and the Rams showed up the day before the game. That’s a brutal travel schedule, but hey, McVay made no excuses.
“We Just Weren’t Good Enough” Says McVay After Brutal Loss
You gotta appreciate McVay’s honesty though. Postgame, he told reporters, “Sometimes sports can humble you and today was one of those days.” He added, “I make no excuses. Whether you want to say it’s about travel, or whatever, we just weren’t good enough in that window. I didn’t coach good enough.” That’s a stark admission, especially for a team so many preseason talking heads predicted would walk into the Super Bowl. They had a fumble, an interception, and two turnovers on downs during that 24-0 San Francisco run. That’s not a Super Bowl team. The roster looks good on paper, sure, but the big question now is if they can play like a team.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and the Rams have 16 more games to go. Their season is far from over. They’ve gotta get back home, get back to work, and figure things out. And hey, there’s even a rumor that a player wearing #99 might be coming back. That could be a lift, but for now, they need to focus on getting that next W and proving they’re more than just preseason hype.
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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