Brock Purdy Throws Three Touchdowns as 49ers Rout Rams in Australia

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in Melbourne, marking the first regular-season NFL game held in Australia.

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the first regular-season NFL game ever played in Australia. Quarterback Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes to lead an offense that averaged 5.8 yards per carry on 30 attempts. The San Francisco defense, led by new coordinator Raheem Morris, held the Rams to their lowest scoring total in a game started by Matthew Stafford. Following a scoreless opening, the 49ers scored 17 unanswered points to secure the 20-point victory.

According to ESPN, the Rams became the first preseason Super Bowl favorite in 50 years to lose a season opener by at least 20 points. The loss was the largest for Los Angeles since Week 2 of the 2024 season. The game drew a sellout crowd of 100,021 spectators, ranking as the seventh-highest attendance in NFL regular-season history.

Travel logistics became a central postgame topic as the 49ers arrived in Melbourne on Sept. 4, while the Rams arrived on Thursday for the Friday game. San Francisco players, including receiver Mike Evans and tight end George Kittle, credited the week-long stay at the Park Hyatt for their acclimation. Despite the win, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and Rams coach Sean McVay both dismissed the differing arrival times as the deciding factor in the outcome. The NFL has multiyear agreements to return to Australia, with the Seahawks, Eagles, and Raiders scheduled for future international marketing rights in the country.