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49ers beat Rams 27-7 to open 2026 season in Melbourne

By Drooid · Sep 11, 2026, 11:04 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

49ers Open Season

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 to open the 2026 NFL season in Melbourne.
The 49ers arrived a week early, flying 16 hours and 8,000 miles before kickoff.
About 175,000 people registered interest for the 100,000-seat MCG, prompting a sellout within two hours.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said the early arrival helped the team feel stronger as the game progressed.

Summary

Warner Mocks Rams

Warner posted an Instagram carousel mocking the Rams after their loss.
The carousel featured a video of Daejon Love, arrested Aug 24 for a $1.3 million fraud scheme.
Warner also shared a clip of Sean McVay saying the flight was “great, we feel well rested.”
The final slides displayed the Rams’ end-zone “sleep celebration” referencing their travel strategy.
Fans reposted the images, sparking debate over professional conduct in international NFL events.

History

Historical Context

The NFL’s first regular-season game abroad came on Oct 2 2005 when the Arizona Cardinals beat the San Francisco 49ers at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca before a record 103,467 fans. After ending the American Bowl and folding NFL Europa, the league built an International Series that now reaches London, Germany and, in 2026, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the 49ers will open under coach Kyle Shanahan.

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49ers Open Season

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 to open the 2026 NFL season in Melbourne.
The 49ers arrived a week early, flying 16 hours and 8,000 miles before kickoff.
About 175,000 people registered interest for the 100,000-seat MCG, prompting a sellout within two hours.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said the early arrival helped the team feel stronger as the game progressed.

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