49ers credit early arrival in Australia for dominant win over Rams

San Francisco opened its 2026 NFL campaign with a 27-7 victory against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. The 49ers arrived a week before kickoff, allowing players to acclimate to the 16-hour flight and local conditions. Defensive end Nick Bosa told reporters the early arrival and the work of strength and conditioning coach Dustin Perry contributed to the win. > "I think the plan worked out; the plan was great," Bosa said. > "The game ball went to our strength and conditioning guy, Dustin Perry, and I think coming out for a week was just the smart play with how far the flight was and all the amenities we had here." The Rams, by contrast, flew to the venue just over 24 hours before the game. San Francisco’s preparation appeared to give them an advantage, as they held the Rams to seven points while scoring 27 themselves. The 49ers suffered injuries to Jake Tonges and De'Zhaun Stribling but avoided further setbacks and will return to the Bay Area to prepare for a Week 2 home game against the Miami Dolphins. After a 12-5 season and a playoff loss to Seattle last year, the 49ers added players such as Mike Evans, Dre Greenlaw and Osa Odighizuwa in the offseason. The opening win provides early momentum as the team seeks to improve on its previous campaign.