MELBOURNE — The San Francisco 49ers opened the season with a decisive 27-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, riding a locked-in second half from Brock Purdy and a stifling defensive effort. Purdy shook off an early interception and took control in the third quarter, engineering a 99-yard drive and extending plays with his legs to set the tone for the Week 1 victory.
“I thought Brock played so well,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. “He had one play I know he wants to take back, the interception to [Rams S Quentin] Lake, but he made some big-time plays, some big-time throws.” Purdy credited the plan and his progressions, saying, “I think Kyle was doing a great job with dialing up the right play calls, and obviously not being aware of when we want to take a shot and go deep and stuff, but the [Rams] defense was giving us our ones and twos in the progression. So, just trying to take that….And then, obviously, when it wasn't there, I think that was the time in the game where I started using my legs a little bit. And then guys did a great job on the scramble drill, obviously hitting Deebo late." Shanahan added, "The 99-yard drive, there were so many plays there that he had to take off-schedule, where there wasn't an answer, and he moved the chains with his legs. And I think he found Deebo on one—that was a big off-schedule for the touchdown. So Brock was unbelievable today."
San Francisco's defense set the edge early and finished strong. Osa Odighizuwa pressured Matthew Stafford relentlessly with three quarterback hits in the first half, while Nick Bosa generated pressure in his first game back after tearing his right ACL in Week 3 last season. Cornerback Renardo Green intercepted a Stafford pass intended for Puka Nacua, and near the end of the third quarter rookie Gracen Halton and Fred Warner stuffed Stafford for no gain on a goal-line push up the middle. The 49ers game-planned around Myles Garrett — the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year last season with Cleveland who was acquired by the Rams after a 23-sack season — and held him without a tackle or sack through three quarters, the same stat line as Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement and stayed back in California for the game.
Tactically, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris conceded 5.1 yards per carry to keep Stafford contained, leaning on dime more than nickel and trusting his four best corners. The approach paid off against a Rams offense that stayed primarily in 11 personnel despite success in 13 personnel (5-for-5, 96 yards, +1.06 EPA per play via SumerSports). Los Angeles barely played man coverage despite having Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie, while San Francisco played more man than the Rams. On offense, Shanahan mixed dash, jet, bump and ghost motions with offset alignments to create easy throws, and got positive yardage from No. 2 back Kaelon Black.
Shanahan's preparation for the trip also drew praise after bringing the team to Australia more than a week early. The win gives San Francisco early momentum as Purdy looks to carry his flow-state form forward, with upcoming tests including a Broncos defense noted for vulnerability at linebacker but elite talent elsewhere.