NFL
By George Lopez
The Los Angeles Rams begin their 2026 season down under. They face their bitter division rival, the San Francisco 49ers, in the NFL’s first game in Australia. Both teams are looking to get off to a strong start. For the Rams, Week 1 is the first leg of a journey. Fans hope it will end with a Super Bowl championship. Fans await the regular-season debut of new players and the return of beloved fan favorite Aaron Donald.
Matthew Stafford returns to lead the Rams offense. Stafford will look to build on his 2025 MVP season, when he threw for over 4,700 yards and a career-high 46 touchdowns. Stafford’s health will be key to the Rams’ success this season. All eyes will be on the play of both offensive tackles: Alaric Jackson and Warren McClendon. Jackson, the Rams’ starting left tackle, faced questions about whether the NFL would discipline him for off-the-field issues. As of now, the NFL has not decided, and Jackson is expected to play in Week 1. Jackson plays a crucial role in the Rams’ pass protection, protecting Stafford’s blind side.
McClendon takes over at right tackle after the retirement of Rob Havenstein. McClendon did see playing time in 2025 when Havenstein was out with injuries. Still, eyes will be on his pass protection. If McClendon is not able to get the job done, look for the Rams to insert David Quessenberry at right tackle. The interior offensive line returns starters Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson at guards. Coleman Shelton returns at center. The Rams coaching staff, led by Head Coach Sean McVay, feels very confident in the interior play of the offensive line. They’re confident in their ability to protect Stafford up the middle.
Wide receiver Puka Nacua has dealt with a nagging lower back injury during training camp. However, he is expected to play against San Francisco. Nacua has become a serious threat to opposing secondaries and will look to build on his 2025 season. Last season, he recorded 129 receptions for 1715 yards and 10 touchdowns. In his three-year career, Nacua has emerged as a trusted target for Stafford. Opposing defenses often double-team Nacua. They face a double-edged sword with that decision, as DaVante Adams lines up on the other side of the field for the Rams.
Adams returns for his second season with the Rams. Limited to 14 games in 2025, Adams recorded 60 receptions for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns. When close to the end zone, Adams was a top target for Stafford. Adams’ experience has helped the Rams’ young receivers, especially Nacua, as his game reached an even higher level in 2025 thanks to Adams’ tutelage. With Nacua and Adams on the field, Stafford has a formidable 1-2 receiving punch that will cause headaches for opposing secondaries.
During his tenure as the Rams’ head coach, Sean McVay has been viewed as a coach with an excellent passing game. However, the Rams’ key will be the success of their running game, led by Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. McVay knows he will need to stay consistent with the run game against the 49ers to keep their defense honest. Williams will be expected to get the bulk of the carries in the running game, though Corum will see considerable playing time. Look for Williams to get 20 carries against San Francisco. As exciting as the Rams offense has been under McVay, this year’s defense has been the talk of the league.
In the offseason, the Rams made a lot of noise by trading for CB Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett. Garrett, the reigning DPOY, strengthens the Rams’ defensive pass rush. He should draw double teams all game, giving the Rams’ interior defensive line, led by Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske, multiple sack opportunities. The excitement fans felt when Aaron Donald came out of retirement to rejoin the Rams has been somewhat tempered by the news that Donald will not be active in Week 1. With new players on defense, the Rams will look to do things differently to attack the 49ers offense.
With the coverage ability of McDuffie and free agent signee Jaylen Watson, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula will look to use new blitz schemes to put pressure on 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. The Rams know they cannot let Purdy escape to the outside of their pass rush. He has shown a tremendous ability to create on the outside. Look for Garrett and edge rusher Byron Young to maintain outside containment to keep Purdy in the pocket. The Rams’ interior pass rush will look to collapse the pocket and take away Purdy’s ability to step up. The Rams will focus on Christian McCaffrey.
When healthy, Christian McCaffrey is a defensive matchup nightmare. McCaffrey is not only a tremendous running back, but also a top receiver out of the backfield and a danger in the open field. Coach Shula knows a key to the Rams’ defensive success will be containing McCaffrey when he touches the ball. Initially, the availability of McCaffrey was in question as he dealt with a lingering injury during camp. As the team prepares in Australia, McCaffrey is practicing and expects to play against the Rams. Coach Shula will look to devise schemes to limit McCaffrey’s productivity.
The NFL selected the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers to represent the league in the first-ever game in Australia. Both teams enter the season with Super Bowl aspirations and are looking to get a jump on a divisional opponent. Coach McVay and Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan are very familiar with each other’s offensive philosophy, as both come from the same coaching tree. This matchup has the makings of one of the best Week 1 games in the NFL. In the end, look for the Rams to pull out a tough, hard-fought victory against their hated rivals.
Rams 27
49ers 21
