Rams and 49ers play NFL season opener in Melbourne on Thursday night

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers meet Thursday night at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the first NFL regular-season game hosted in Australia. The Rams enter the matchup after an offseason focused on defensive reinforcements, including the acquisition of Myles Garrett and cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. San Francisco makes roster adjustments following the loss of defensive tackle Alfred Collins for the season and lingering injury concerns for key veterans like Nick Bosa and George Kittle. This game marks a fresh start for both division rivals as they navigate personnel changes and a unique international venue. Coaches Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan prepare to debut new schemes with limited recent film available for analysis. Kickoff in Melbourne follows a 2025 season where the two teams split their series meetings.

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