Melbourne (GNP): The San Francisco 49ers delivered a dominant 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams before a crowd of more than 100,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in the National Football League’s (NFL) first-ever game in the Asia-Pacific region.
The fixture marked the opening match of a record nine international games scheduled for the 2026 season and represented the longest road trip in NFL history. The two teams took markedly different approaches to the trip, with the 49ers arriving in Melbourne a full week before kickoff while the Rams spent just over 24 hours in the country.
The Rams had entered the game as Super Bowl favourites after bolstering their roster with defensive end Myles Garrett and the return of veteran defensive player Aaron Donald from retirement. Despite that reputation, Los Angeles struggled to match the 49ers’ preparation and intensity on the day.
San Francisco receiver Deebo Samuel credited the extended stay in Melbourne for the team’s performance, pointing to the difficulty of adjusting after a long-haul flight. Samuel said, “I don’t think you can fly 16 hours and be ready to play.”
The match began to open up in the second quarter, when Kyren Williams scored a rushing touchdown to put the Rams ahead by four points following an earlier 49ers field goal. San Francisco responded before halftime through a touchdown from Demarcus Robinson, shifting momentum back in their favour.
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That momentum carried into the second half, as further touchdowns from Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel, along with a second field goal, sealed the win for the 49ers. Quarterback Brock Purdy anchored the offensive performance, completing 25 of his 34 pass attempts for 205 yards and three touchdown passes.
Rams head coach Sean McVay acknowledged the scale of the defeat after the game, declining to attribute it to travel conditions. McVay said, “I didn’t coach good enough, and we’ll look at it and we’ll move forward.”
The result marks a strong start to the NFL’s expanded international schedule for 2026 and offers an early signal of form for both franchises as they head into the remainder of the season.
Managing Editor at Global News Pakistan (GNP), with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Riphah International University, graduated with a Gold Medal. Reach out at sabahtareengnp@gmail.com
