The NFL officially made its mark in Australia on Thursday, Sept. 10 as the San Franciso 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the league’s first ever regular season game played in Australia.
The historic matchup drew 100,021 fans, the seventh largest attendance for an NFL game in league history, highlighting the interest surrounding the NFL’s first trip to Australia.
The Rams got off to a good start, taking a 7-3 lead early in the game with a touchdown from running back Kyren Williams. From there, the 49ers took control, outscoring Los Angeles 24-0 the rest of the way.
The result was especially surprising for a Rams team that entered the season with expectations of being one of the NFC’s top contenders. While it is only one game in a long NFL season, a 27-7 loss in the league’s first game in Australia was not the start Los Angeles fans were hoping for.
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy led the way, throwing for 205 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson got the first touchdown on the board. Newly acquired wide receiver Mike Evans was his leading target, finishing with six receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown. Deebo Samuel Sr. also found the end zone in his return to the 49ers after spending last season with the Washington Commanders.
The Rams struggled to generate offence throughout the rest of the game. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who won last year’s MVP finished the season opener with 155 passing yards and an interception, while Los Angeles was unable to find the end zone after an early touchdown.
Newly acquired Rams defensive star Myles Garrett also entered the game with high expectations but was unable to make the impact many expected, finishing without any tackles, sacks or quarterback hits.
While the result gave San Francisco its first win in Australia, one of the biggest talking points surrounding the game came before either team stepped onto the field.
The Rams arrived in Australia just 28 hours before kickoff, while the 49ers had been in the country for a week. The difference in preparation became a major point of discussion as players and coaches dealt with long travel and the considerable time zone change.
For Los Angeles, the decision to play in Australia was about more than simply adding another game to the schedule. The Rams volunteered to host the historic matchup as the organization had been working for more than a decade to make an NFL game in Australia happen.
The matchup was also part of a much bigger plan for the NFL.
The league has continued to expand its presence outside North America, using international games to introduce football to new audiences while creating additional opportunities for ticket sales, merchandise and broadcasting revenue.
In recent years, the NFL has held games in countries including Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brazil. Australia now becomes another major international market for the league, with more international games already planned for this season in countries including: Brazil, England, France, Spain and Germany.
The NFL’s international expansion is not simply about playing one game in another country each year. League commissioner Roger Goodell said in August that he has “no doubt” the NFL will eventually have permanent franchises outside the United States.
Thursday’s game in Melbourne provided an early look at what the future of football could eventually look like. The atmosphere at the game gave the league an opportunity to showcase the sport to a new audience while also testing logistics of bringing two NFL teams across the world for a regular season game.
For the players, the trip presents challenges that do not normally come with a usual NFL game. The 49ers had more time to adjust to the time difference and their surroundings, while the Rams had to adapt almost immediately after arriving in Australia. Despite the travel concerns and uneven performance on the field, the significance of the game went beyond the final score.
San Francisco leaves Australia with a 27-7 victory over a divisional rival, while the Rams leave with questions about their preparation and performance. For the NFL, the bigger victory may have been introducing its product to thousands of fans in one of the world’s largest international sports markets.
Australia may have hosted its first NFL game on Thursday, but if Goodell’s vision becomes reality, it may not be the last.