The NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia gave us something we had never seen before, but it also gave us one of the strangest preparation contrasts imaginable.
The San Francisco 49ers arrived in Australia about a week early, giving themselves plenty of time to adjust. The Los Angeles Rams arrived roughly a day before the game, taking a completely different approach.
Welcome to what EST is officially calling The Jet Lag Bowl.
One team had a week to figure out what time it was. The other practically landed and put its pads on.
By the end of the night, San Francisco’s approach certainly looked like the better one.
First Quarter — Feeling Each Other Out
The 49ers opened the game by establishing the run and letting Brock Purdy work underneath with quick throws to players like Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans. San Francisco drove all the way to the Rams’ 2-yard line but decided to take the points on fourth down, kicking a field goal for an early 3–0 lead.
Los Angeles went three-and-out on its opening possession, and San Francisco followed with a three-and-out of its own.
Late in the quarter, the Rams finally found some life. Matthew Stafford connected with Puka Nacua for a huge 40-yard gain, moving Los Angeles inside the San Francisco 10-yard line as the first quarter came to an end.
End of First Quarter: 49ers 3, Rams 0
Second Quarter — Turnovers and Big Plays
The Rams immediately finished what they started. Kyren Williams punched the ball into the end zone, giving Los Angeles its first lead of the night at 7–3.
Then things got messy.
Purdy tried to get the football to George Kittle and was intercepted. Stafford gave it right back shortly afterward, throwing an interception to Renardo Green. Back-to-back quarterback turnovers suddenly had both offenses playing with fire.
Purdy nearly threw another interception later in the quarter, but the ball somehow ricocheted off a Rams defender and ended up in the hands of a 49ers offensive lineman for a small gain.
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.
But Purdy didn’t need luck on his next big opportunity. He launched a beautiful ball downfield to Demarcus Robinson for a touchdown, putting San Francisco back in front.
The Rams had another opportunity before halftime, but a holding penalty helped derail the possession and Stafford nearly threw another interception while trying to make something happen. San Francisco got one final opportunity before halftime, with a roughing-the-passer penalty extending the drive, but the 49ers couldn’t turn it into points.
Halftime: 49ers 10, Rams 7
Third Quarter — San Francisco Takes Control
Whatever San Francisco discussed at halftime worked.
Christian McCaffrey ripped off two big runs, Purdy kept the offense moving with quick throws, and suddenly the 49ers were threatening again. Purdy eventually found Mike Evans in the end zone for his first touchdown as a 49er, extending the lead to 17–7.
The Rams responded with one of their best drives of the night. Puka Nacua made two excellent catches, Davante Adams added another, and Los Angeles marched all the way to the San Francisco 1-yard line.
Then the 49ers defense slammed the door.
San Francisco stopped Stafford on fourth down for a massive goal-line stand, leaving the 49ers backed up almost as far as an offense can possibly be.
Their response was incredible.
Starting at their own 1-yard line, Purdy found Farrell to get the possession moving. McCaffrey and Kaelon Black followed with big runs before Purdy started hurting Los Angeles with his own legs. A huge Purdy scramble closed out the quarter with San Francisco suddenly marching down the field after beginning the possession 99 yards away from the opposite end zone.
End of Third Quarter: 49ers 17, Rams 7
Fourth Quarter — The 99-Yard Statement
Purdy opened the fourth quarter with another run, continuing to punish the Rams whenever the pocket broke down.
Then he finished the masterpiece.
Purdy escaped the pocket to his right, kept his eyes downfield and found Deebo Samuel in the end zone for the touchdown.
Ninety-nine yards.
The 49ers had gone from being pinned at their own 1-yard line to the end zone, and Purdy had thrown his third touchdown pass of the night.
Purdy wasn’t perfect. The interception was ugly, and there were a couple of throws that easily could have gone the other way. But every time the game gave him an opportunity to respond, he did. Between the three touchdown passes, his scrambling and the 99-yard drive, Purdy made an early case for EST Excellence in Week 1.
The 49ers defense wasn’t finished either.
A brutal pass-interference call extended a Rams drive that appeared to be over, only for Tyler Higbee to fumble shortly afterward.
Football karma.
San Francisco recovered and turned the mistake into another field goal. Later, the Rams tried a screen on third down before failing on fourth, giving the football right back to San Francisco on downs.
The 49ers had an opportunity to add another three points, but their 52-yard field-goal attempt hit the upright.
It didn’t matter.
With roughly three minutes remaining and Los Angeles down 20, Stetson Bennett entered the game for Matthew Stafford.
The white flag had been waved.
Final: 49ers 27, Rams 7
This 49ers Defense Looks Different
One of my biggest takeaways from this game wasn’t even the offense.
It was San Francisco’s defense.
With Raheem Morris leading the unit and Nick Bosa and Fred Warner healthy, this defense already looks different. They intercepted Stafford, forced a fumble, delivered a huge goal-line stand and later forced another turnover on downs.
This wasn’t simply the 49ers offense building a lead and hanging on.
The defense repeatedly took opportunities away from Los Angeles.
If this is what a healthy San Francisco defense under Morris is going to look like in 2026, the rest of the NFC should be paying attention.
EST Final Take
San Francisco didn’t play a perfect game. Purdy made some dangerous throws, the offense left points on the field early and the 49ers even doinked a field goal late.
None of it mattered.
The 49ers controlled the second half, produced an incredible 99-yard touchdown drive, forced turnovers, delivered a massive goal-line stand and held the Rams to just seven points.
And maybe arriving in Australia a week early wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
The Jet Lag Bowl belongs to San Francisco.
More importantly, EST picked the 49ers before kickoff.
EST Prediction Record: 2–0. 👑
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