The San Francisco 49ers Steamroll The Los Angeles Rams Down Under, 27-7: Game Was NFL’s First-Ever Played In Australia

In a historic sporting spectacle that brought American football to the Southern Hemisphere, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 on Friday at a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The matchup, serving as the NFL’s first-ever regular season game in Australia, drew a massive crowd of 100,021 fans to the iconic cricket venue. While the atmosphere in the stadium was electric, the game itself was a lopsided affair, dictated heavily by how each team handled the grueling cross-Pacific travel.

Jet Lag Dictates the Pace

The stark contrast in the teams’ travel schedules manifested immediately on the field. The 49ers, who arrived in Melbourne a week prior to acclimate to the time zone, looked sharp, disciplined, and energized. The Rams, by contrast, opted for a highly debated strategy of flying out just 28 hours before kickoff. The jet lag appeared devastating for Los Angeles, as their offense looked sluggish and struggled to find any rhythm.

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy dissected the weary Rams defense, throwing for 205 yards and 3 touchdowns. Purdy spread the ball effectively, connecting with Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, and veteran newcomer Mike Evans for scores.

Defensive Dominance

The 49ers’ defense completely neutralized reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ high-powered offense. San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner, making a highly anticipated return from a severe ankle injury suffered last season, anchor-dropped the Rams’ game plan. Warner forced two crucial fumbles and flew across the field to stifle Los Angeles’ playmakers.

The Rams’ lone breakthrough came in the second quarter on a gritty 5-yard touchdown run by Kyren Williams, but it was nowhere near enough to spark a comeback.

With the victory, the 49ers secure a 1-0 start to the 2026 season and claiming bragging rights in the NFC West, while the Rams leave Australia with a 0-1 record and serious questions about their international travel philosophy.

Netflix Streams Game, First of Several This Season

Despite high industry stakes and a price tag estimated near $500 million for their five-game package, Netflix handled the high-profile broadcast with impressive technical stability. Sports host and Atlanta native Elle Duncan anchored a star-studded studio panel featuring Super Bowl champions Nick Foles, Clay Matthews III, and Michael Irvin.

In the booth, play-by-play announcer Noah Eagle paired seamlessly with former All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly, who earned praise from fans on social media for his sharp defensive insights in his color commentary debut. Aside from isolated complaints of minor compression artifacts in the opening minutes, the stream remained buffer-free for global audiences, complete with a clean, custom graphics engine tailored for the platform.

Remaining 2026 NFL on Netflix Schedule

The Australia game marks the beginning of an expanded five-game regular-season broadcast rights package for Netflix running through the 2026–27 season. The upcoming exclusive slate includes major holiday doubleheaders and high-stakes division rivalries:

Week 12 (Thanksgiving Eve) — Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2026
Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams (SoFi Stadium — Time TBA)

Week 17 (Christmas Day Doubleheader) — Friday, Dec. 25, 2026

1:00 PM ET: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears (Soldier Field)

4:30 PM ET: Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos (Empower Field at Mile High)

Week 18 (Playoff Implications) — Saturday, Jan. 9, 2027
Matchup TBA (1:00 PM ET)

Postseason — February 2027
The Exclusive Global Broadcast of the NFL Honors