The Los Angeles Rams’ travel plans for their season opener in Australia were viewed by many as questionable. The Rams had pursued a different philosophy compared to the San Francisco 49ers, deciding to arrive a little more than 24 hours before kickoff.
Coach Sean McVay and the Rams fell short on the field, losing 27-7 to the San Francisco 49ers, who arrived in Australia several days ago, in an NFC West contest.
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“I know there’s gonna be a lot of narratives that appropriately put the blame on me, and then we’ll move forward the right way,” McVay told reporters after the game. “… I don’t believe (the travel plan) is why we didn’t play well enough. I really don’t.”
Los Angeles treated the Week 1 game as practically a normal business trip. The Rams have also decided to leave Australia as soon as possible. The 49ers traveled eight days early to prepare for the 17-hour time difference.
“The game (plan) worked,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters after the game. “I knew, win or lose, I knew everyone was going to make a big deal about that for either team. You never know how much that factors into it, and you just try to do the best you can to prepare. … I like how we prepared and more importantly, I like how we played.”
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
The NFL heads to Australia as the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
See moments from the international matchup as fans and players help bring NFL action to Melbourne.
Above, Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers speaks to Scott Helverson (Back Judge) during the warm up prior to the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
The NFL heads to Australia as the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers meet at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
See moments from the international matchup as fans and players help bring NFL action to Melbourne.
Above, Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers speaks to Scott Helverson (Back Judge) during the warm up prior to the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Quentin Lake #37 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with teammates after the touchdown scored by Kyren Williams #23 of the Los Angeles Rams in the second quarter of the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Mike Evans of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after making a first down in the first quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Eddy Piñeiro of the San Francisco 49ers kicks a field goal in the first quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Cody Simpson performs the national anthem prior to the NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Morgan Hancock, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams passes the ball in the first quarter of the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers reacts in the first quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers passes the ball in the first quarter of the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
United States Marine Corps Ospreys and Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes perform a joint flyover prior to the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
General view prior to the NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Morgan Hancock, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Fans look on prior to the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Deebo Samuel Sr. #19 and Deommodore Lenoir #2 of the San Francisco 49ers run onto the field prior to the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Members of the Los Angeles Rams run onto the field prior to the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Myles Garrett of the Los Angeles Rams warms up prior to the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Blake Corum of the Los Angeles Rams warms up prior to the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Los Angeles Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford warms up during the NFL match between Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on September 11, 2026.
(MARTIN KEEP, AFP via Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Deebo Samuel Sr. of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Los Angeles Rams’ wide receiver Puka Nacua warms up prior to playing the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 10.
(MARTIN KEEP, AFP via Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Mike Evans of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Harrison Mevis of the Los Angeles Rams warms up prior to the NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Corliss Waitman of the San Francisco 49ers warms up prior to the NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Spectators arrive prior to the NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Spectators arrive prior to the NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
A 49ers fan is seen prior to the NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
A LA Rams fan wearing a Matthew Stafford jersey arrives ahead of the NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne on September 11, 2026.
(MARTIN KEEP, AFP via Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
A 49ers fan is seen prior to the NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Images)
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Rams vs. 49ers bring NFL action to Melbourne
Fans gather outside the MCG ahead of the San Francisco 49ers v Los Angeles Rams game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.
(Quinn Rooney, Getty Images)
While football fans and pundits questioned the Rams’ approach, the team had spent the past two years preparing for this trip, sending “15 staffers over the last two years and (they) have tracked their bodies and sleep rhythms,” according to ESPN’s Peter Schrager.
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Did jet lag play a factor? The Rams allowed a touchdown in each of the final three quarters. The Rams’ offense also managed to turn the ball over twice, including an interception thrown by veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Mike Evans comments on Rams’ travel plan
49ers receiver Mike Evans shared his thoughts on the Rams’ travel situation when he was asked about it during the postgame press conference.
“You have to give your body time to adjust,” Evans told reporters after the game. “Whenever the game is scheduled, you have to be ready to play, but maybe a few days earlier would’ve been ideal, but we don’t care if they came a week or two earlier; we had it on our mind to come out and execute, and we did that.”
When do the Rams play next?
The Rams return to action for a Week 2 game against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football on Sept. 21.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sean McVay defends Rams’ Australia travel plans after loss to 49ers
