{"id":8821,"date":"2026-09-10T05:37:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T05:37:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=8821"},"modified":"2026-09-10T05:37:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T05:37:15","slug":"49ers-5-keys-to-winning-in-australia-against-the-los-angeles-rams-on-thursday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=8821","title":{"rendered":"49ers’ 5 keys to winning in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MELBOURNE, Australia \u2014 Both the 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams ended last season with playoff exits to fellow NFC West power Seattle.<\/p>\n

Read more DA charges Richmond woman with attempting to murder 8 cops<\/a><\/p>\n

Both the 49ers and Rams open this season as Super Bowl contenders, and they\u2019ll meet as such in the NFL\u2019s Australian debut.
\nTheir itinerary to get here was just as different as their paths will be to potentially reach the Super Bowl in, of all places, Inglewood, usual home of the Rams.<\/p>\n

In bypassing a season-opening start there at SoFi Stadium, the 49ers and the Rams bring American football to the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground, with kickoff set here Friday for 10:35 a.m. AUST (or today, 5:35 p.m. PT).<\/p>\n

It won\u2019t be any closer than it was the last time the Rams were the designated host, when the 49ers pulled out an overtime win in Week 5.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a big moment for us last year as a team,\u201d linebacker Fred Warner said. \u201cEverybody doubted us going into that game, not having a lot of guys available.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026 There was a lot going against us that game and it was a huge win,\u201d Warner added. \u201cGoing into this season, it\u2019s a completely new situation, new teams. Everyone is trying to see who you are in Week 1.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone including a live Australian audience.\u00a0Here are five things the 49ers must do to prevail:<\/p>\n

1. COMEBACKS LAUNCHED<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

The 49ers were a skeleton unit that somehow reached last season\u2019s divisional round. Well, this season is filled with comeback stories, and all look like they will launch here.<\/p>\n

Tight end George Kittle (Achilles), linebacker Fred Warner (ankle), and defensive ends Nick Bosa (knee) and Keion White (ankle) all play a pivotal role in this season\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n

Also being celebrated are the returns of linebacker Dre Greenlaw and wide receiver Deebo Samuel, after they played last season in Denver and Washington, respectively.<\/p>\n

Kittle and Warner are the 49ers\u2019 most vocal hype men, and their returns are immensely important to lead each side of the ball into battle.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWhether you see him at practice or you see him in the morning getting oatmeal, George is always going to hit you with the same burst of energy, the same smile,\u201d left tackle Trent Williams said. \u201cSeeing him out there is always going to be a lift.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. LIMIT THE AIR MILES<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 49ers must somehow generate a pass rush to slow Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, the NFL\u2019s reigning MVP who has two of the league\u2019s leading receivers back from last season, those being Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.<\/p>\n

Stafford passed for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns. His 423 career touchdown passes are three shy of surpassing Philip Rivers for sixth-most in NFL history. Nacua had an NFL-high 129 receptions (1,715 yards) and Adams had an NFL-high 14 touchdown receptions.<\/p>\n

Read more Hockey player and coach-turned-broadcaster Barry Melrose dies at age 70<\/a><\/p>\n

The 49ers have \u2026 Bosa? Honestly, that defensive front is the Niners\u2019 biggest concern, compounded by season-ending injuries in the past week to Sam Okuayinonu (foot) and Alfred Collins (knee).<\/p>\n

Raheem Morris, five years removed from winning the Super Bowl as the Rams\u2019 defensive coordinator, must unleash an unpredictable and aggressive attack with a suspect unit. Outside of Bosa and White, perhaps rookies Romello Height and Jaden<\/p>\n

Dugger can break out in their NFL debuts. Or perhaps blitzes make someone else a hero.<\/p>\n

3. PROTECT PURDY<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 49ers weren\u2019t totally rejoicing over the news that unretired Rams\u2019 star Aaron Donald was delaying his comeback and not making the Rams\u2019 late-night flight.<\/p>\n

Myles Garrett did make the trip, and he\u2019ll be making his debut as the Rams\u2019 ultimate pass-rushing threat who got sprung out of Cleveland after a NFL-record 23 sacks last season.<\/p>\n

Williams and right tackle Colton McKivitz are familiar with Garrett\u2019s game, as is Purdy, who exchanged friendly banter in last season\u2019s encounter in Cleveland.<\/p>\n

Another concern on the 49ers\u2019 offensive line is at left guard, where they\u2019ve alternated between Carver Willis and Connor Colby. Neither will have to block Donald, the former three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.<\/p>\n

4. NEW TARGETS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, Samuel is back in coach Kyle Shanahan\u2019s offense, looking to revive his 2021 All-Pro form as a \u201cwide back\u201d who can break tackles in the open field as a receiver or take carries out of the backfield.<\/p>\n

But Purdy must come out Week 1 and implement immediate chemistry with new wide receiver Mike Evans and De\u2019Zhaun Stribling. Evans became the Bucs\u2019 all-time leading wide receiver the past dozen seasons, and his height makes him a terrific red zone threat. Stribling, drafted with the first pick of the second round, has looked scintillating through camp and the preseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou all saw a snippet of it in the preseason but he\u2019s an ultimate playmaker,\u201d Evans said. \u201cHe\u2019s physical. He\u2019s tough. Great hands. He\u2019s really smart. And he\u2019s low maintenance.\u201d<\/p>\n

5. STAMINA BATTLE<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 49ers will have had seven nights to acclimate their bodies and sleep patterns, all while embracing Australia\u2019s culture (see: coffee) and A+ treatment.<\/p>\n

The Rams will have had about 24 hours to do the same. Theirs is an in-and-out approach that has come under heavy scrutiny.
\nWith 100,000 fans expected to make this one of the NFL\u2019s most attended games of all-time, the energy will be massive at the start.<\/p>\n

But what about as the game drags on and jet lag hits? One team, in the end, will wish this game didn\u2019t require such travel demands and instead was played at SoFi Stadium. After all, that is the target for this season\u2019s ultimate end game.<\/p>\n

Read more Trump administration tells California its key water plan is \u2018unworkable\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 49ers’ chances of winning in Melbourne Thursday would be greatly enhanced by strong comebacks from George Kittle, Fred Warner and Nick Bosa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n49ers’ 5 keys to winning in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=8821\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"49ers’ 5 keys to winning in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday - 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