Sleep experts analyze Rams travel schedule following loss to 49ers

The Los Angeles Rams arrived in Australia approximately 24 hours before their NFL season opener against the San Francisco 49ers at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The 49ers defeated the Rams 27-7 after arriving in the country a week ahead of the game to acclimate to the environment. Following the defeat, Sean McVay stated he did not believe the team's travel plan caused the subpar performance. Sleep experts, including Fariha Abbasi-Feinberg and Susheel Patil, suggested the 49ers benefited from a more effective strategy for managing circadian rhythms. While Michael Breus noted that performance data is limited to the final score, he indicated that additional rest may have improved the Rams' ability to adapt to the time zone change. The team remains under scrutiny regarding the decision to travel on short notice for the international matchup.

• 3:16 PMYahoo Sports — What sleep experts say about Rams' bizarre schedule for Australia game