Rams and 49ers use different travel strategies for Australia opener

The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers are set to play an NFL regular-season game in Melbourne on Thursday. The teams have adopted divergent travel schedules for the overseas trip, which involves a 17-hour time difference from California. The 49ers arrived in Australia one week ahead of the game to acclimate to the local time zone, a traditional approach intended to help athletes adjust their circadian rhythms. Conversely, the Rams traveled to Melbourne approximately 24 hours before the 10:30 a.m. Friday kickoff. Experts suggest the Rams aim to maintain their California-based internal clocks, utilizing chartered flights with lay-flat beds to manage sleep during the journey. The game represents the first NFL regular-season matchup held in Australia and serves as a test case for how different recovery protocols impact player performance under extreme jet lag.

• 6:10 PMYahoo Sports — Why did Rams and 49ers chose different Australia travel strategies?
• 5:08 PMYahoo Sports — Did Rams or 49ers pick best travel strategy for their NFL opener?