San Francisco’s 27-7 win in Melbourne capped the NFL’s first regular-season game in the Eastern Hemisphere, with the 49ers looking sharper across the board than the Rams.
174 rushing yards, a 105.6 passer rating from Brock Purdy, and a takeaway-filled defensive effort backed the result after the team arrived a full week early to adjust.
The 49ers used melatonin-based “fly kits,” strict no-nap rules and lighter early workouts; Kyle Juszczyk said it still took about 3 days before he felt normal.
Los Angeles took a much shorter trip of about 30 hours, while San Francisco’s players said the longer acclimation window and earlier practice times matched the 10:30 a.m. local kickoff.
The NFL plans to debrief both teams because the Melbourne game is viewed as a template for future long-haul international matchups, with Australia and Tokyo on the league’s radar.