Week 1: 49ers and Rams Take the NFC West to Melbourne
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams play the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday, September 10 (Friday morning local time), with the Rams as the designated home team. Los Angeles brings reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, Myles Garrett, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and an unretired Aaron Donald. San Francisco has Brock Purdy healthy after a turf-toe-marred 2025 and added Mike Evans, but George Kittle and Nick Bosa are both working back from major injuries, and Puka Nacua's status remains tied to an open NFL conduct review.
Two rivals, one neutral site
The teams split last year's meetings, and the Rams have won four of the last five. A Friday-morning kickoff in Melbourne removes any real home-field edge.
Bosa is playing, and Kittle is close
Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris said of Bosa, "Oh, he's going out there. We're not hiding that," though his snap count is unclear. Kittle is practicing at full speed and trending toward playing, with the final call after the week's last practices.
Nacua is expected to play, with the review still open
McVay said on Sept. 6 he expects both Nacua and Alaric Jackson to play. The league has not ruled on either review, so a late change would thin a Rams receiving corps that also lost time to Nacua's groin injury in camp.
AI Prediction
49ers 
Rams The Rams have the healthier top-end talent
Stafford, Garrett and Donald are all cleared and practicing, while San Francisco's three most important non-quarterbacks are coming off Achilles, ACL and soft-tissue issues.
Purdy with Evans keeps San Francisco in it
A healthy Purdy and a true outside receiver in Evans give the 49ers enough to score against a Rams secondary that is the weaker half of the defense.
Travel and the Nacua question add variance
A 15-hour trip for both teams and an unresolved suspension for the Rams' top receiver make this less certain than the talent gap suggests.
The Rams get the edge on quarterback form and pass rush. If Nacua is suspended before kickoff, the projected margin shrinks to a field goal.
Rams Leaders
49ers Leaders
Venue
Closing Line
Bet this matchup
Super Bowl futures, win totals & where to bet
FanDuel Sportsbook: Get $350 in Bonus Bets When You Wager $5 for 7 Days. New customers only. Sign up for FanDuel Sportsbook, verify your account, and make a deposit of at least $5. Place a single online real-money wager of $5+ between 3 AM ET and 11:59 PM ET each day for 7 consecutive days starting from your first eligible wager. Maximum bonus of $50 per day ($350 total). Bonus issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire 7 days after receipt. The 7-day period begins once you're opted in to the promotion. Eligibility and state restrictions apply. See the current offer and full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.
21+ and present in select states. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).
Fanatics Sportsbook: Up to $1,000 in FanCash Matched Bets. New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV or WY. Apply the promotion in your bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -200) daily for 10 consecutive days starting the day of account creation. FanCash rewards equal the qualifying wager amount (max $100 FanCash per day). FanCash issued under this promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, including FanCash terms, apply - see the Fanatics Sportsbook app.
21+ and present in a state where Fanatics Sportsbook operates. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Touchdown Week may earn a commission when you sign up through our links, at no cost to you. Please bet responsibly.
Rams Injuries