The San Francisco 49ers absolutely stomped the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, with a 27-7 rout that frankly wasn’t even that close. What felt like a game early on quickly turned into a clinic, and man, did the Niners look like they were built for it, while the Rams looked like they barely made the flight. A bunch of guys earned some props, but only three can truly shine on the season’s first list of stars.
Williams Still The Boss
Seriously, forget all the noise about Myles Garrett, the guy everyone’s been hyping up. Because while folks were focused on the former Cleveland Brown, the 49ers reminded everyone they still have Trent Williams, the greatest offensive tackle to ever play the game. The entire 49ers offensive line locked down the coveted Rams front four all night, holding them to just six pressures, five hurries, and zero sacks on Brock Purdy. But Williams? He was dealing with Garrett, the NFL’s single-season sack record holder! And when it was Williams versus Garrett, it was lights out for the defending Defensive Player of the Year. Garrett finished with a measly one pressure, one hurry, and one sack. And get this: Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua had more tackles (1) than Garrett (0)! We were all hearing how the 49ers’ “middling” line couldn’t stop Garrett. Answer: Trent Williams. At 38, he’s still elite, showing that consistency, longevity, and pure dominance that screams first-ballot Hall of Famer.
A Quarterback’s Bounce Back
Talk about a roller coaster for Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ WR! Yeah, the start was rough, real rough. That second-quarter interception? About as bad as it gets. Quentin Lake just dropped into coverage, Purdy didn’t see him, and boom, easiest pick of Lake’s career. That happened with the Rams up 7-3, and it felt like it could have turned everything. But Purdy didn’t let it. From that point on, he settled in and played nearly perfect. And hey, Matthew Stafford threw an interception right after, so that certainly helped wipe the slate clean.
This kind of early season dominance, especially from veterans like Williams and a resilient performance from Purdy, tells you a lot about the 49ers’ early form. They might have been on the other side of the world, but they brought their A-game. If they can keep this energy up, especially shutting down top-tier talent like Garrett, it’s going to be a long season for anyone trying to stop them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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