Rams and 49ers prepare for season opener in Melbourne

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will play their NFL season opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, September 11. The match, which kicks off at 10:35 a.m. local time, marks the first NFL game held in Australia. The two teams are employing contrasting travel strategies to manage the 17-hour time difference and 8,000-mile flight. The 49ers are scheduled to arrive a week before the game to adjust their body clocks to the local time. Conversely, the Rams intend to arrive one day before kickoff and depart immediately after the game, a "hit-and-run" approach they previously tested during a trip to London. Neurologist W. Christopher Winter and sleep specialist Meeta Singh have offered conflicting assessments regarding whether immediate travel or early acclimation is more beneficial for athletic performance during the early-morning kickoff.

• 2:05 PMYahoo Sports — The Rams think they’ve figured out jet lag. Australia is about to test their theory