San Francisco 49ers prepare for season opener against Los Angeles Rams

The San Francisco 49ers open their 2026 season Thursday in Australia against NFC West rivals the Los Angeles Rams. Heading into the matchup, the team looks to improve upon a 2025 campaign that saw a 42.4% rushing success rate. While Christian McCaffrey led the team in targets, the offense aims to bolster its ground game to complement a passing attack that ranked fifth in the league in expected points added per play. Kyle Shanahan will continue utilizing 21 personnel packages to identify defensive coverages and create rushing lanes. Quarterback Brock Purdy also enters the new season seeking to reduce his interception rate after finishing 27th in that metric last year. The team continues its preparation in Australia as it looks to establish a more consistent rhythm on both sides of the ball.

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