49ers dominate Rams 27-7 in season opener in Melbourne
Quarterback Brock Purdy threw three touchdowns as San Francisco beat Los Angeles 27-7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while the defense limited Matthew Stafford to 155 yards and an interception.
San Francisco opened its season with a 27-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 25 of 34 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Demarcus Robinson, Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel. Running back Christian McCaffrey contributed 68 rushing yards on 10 carries, and rookie Kaelon Black added 65 yards on 14 attempts in his NFL debut.
The 49ers' defense, featuring Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, held the Rams to 155 passing yards and forced an interception, limiting MVP Matthew Stafford to 15 completions on 25 attempts. Defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa recorded three quarterback hits in the first half, and cornerback Renardo Green intercepted a pass intended for Puka Nacua.
Mike Evans, a first-year player, caught five passes, including a third-quarter touchdown, while Deebo Samuel returned from injury to score a 15-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The win puts San Francisco at 1-0 as the team prepares to host the Miami Dolphins on September 20 at Levi's Stadium.
"We executed well on both sides of the ball and showed we can compete anywhere," said head coach Kyle Shanahan.
San Francisco will now return home for a break before its next game.