The San Francisco 49ers opened their 2026 regular seasonwith an emphatic win over the NFC West-rival Los Angeles Rams by a 27-7 final score.
The Niners effectively silenced doubters through Week 1, with a dominant performance that will undoubtedly reposition some stances taken with San Francisco and just how good it can be.
The defense allowed just one score and the offense scored 24 unanswered points after going down 7-3 early in the second quarter. Quarterback Brock Purdy completed 25 of 34 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns.
"I mean, at the end of the day, it comes down to playing our style of ball, doing what coaches coach us up to do, and running our plays," Purdy said in a postgame interview with Netflix. "Obviously, you got to respect
the other guys on the other side, and we know what they can do. But at the end of the day, man, it comes down to executing, protecting the ball, moving the ball, getting points on (the) board, keeping it simple."
It was an overall team effort that forces others to look closer at what's going on with San Francisco. Here's what we learned from the 49ers' Week 1 victory against the Rams:
Mike Evans provides security for Brock Purdy
Throughout the offseason, there was a bit of a hesitance on if newly acquired veteran receiver Mike Evans would be ready to suit up for the 49ers in time for the regular season. Not only did he enter the season healthy, but Evans quieted any negative chatter about what he could bring to San Francisco's offense.
Evans provided a trusted, go-to target for Purdy, who looked his way seven time. Evans snagged six catches for 49 yards and a touchdown.
The duo looked like they've played together for years.
"Brock threw a great ball," Evans said after the game. "We got the coverage we wanted and we actually repped that a lot the last couple weeks. So I was happy that that paid off and we were able to keep scoring after that."
Considering Evans' injury history and his acclimation to a new offense, the new tandem could surprise some who didn't have the veteran wideout highly regarded entering 2026.
"I know I'm an older player. I've had probably over a thousand football practices in my life now, so I know what I'm doing out there. They know what they're doing. They did a good job taking care of me," Evans told reporters after a Sept. 7 practice. "None of my injuries were significant, so if it was a game week, I wouldn't have missed any time.”
Evans' consistency is a big part of what drew San Francisco to sign him this offseason: Evans piled up at least 65 catches and 1,000 yards with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers between 2014 and 2024. That streak came to an end in 2025, as he missed half the campaign with injuries.
Christian McCaffrey, Kaelon Black tandem raises eyebrows
We know Christian McCaffrey but questions loomed about how Kaelon Black, the 2026 third-round pick out of Indiana, would fit in the backfield. The 5-foot-10, 210-pound back ran hard and was tough to tackle in the Niners' opening matchup.
Neither Black nor McCaffrey found the end zone vs. the Rams, but they combined for 24 carries and 133 yards. Black tallied 65 yards on 14 carries (4.6 YPC), while McCaffrey ran for 68 yards on 10 carries (6.8 YPC)
The pair got just about whatever they wanted on the ground, but that's also a huge credit to the 49ers' offensive line, which had an answer for Myles Garrett and the Rams' defensive line.
Fred Warner, Nick Bosa returns prop up 49ers' defense
Entering Week 1, talk surrounded the Rams' dominant offense, and rightfully so, based on its results last season.
However, the 49ers' defense returned two of its key figures in linebacker Fred Warner and pass rusher Nick Bosa, and the pair left their imprint on the game.
Bosa's constant pressure forced Matthew Stafford into hurried passes, one leading to an interception from 49ers cornerback Renardo Green.
Warner ended with 11 total tackles, a pass deflection and a forced fumble. Bosa notched four total tackles, two resulting in loss of yards.
The secondary might still need work, but with the superstar pair bolstering the Front 7, it helps the back end tremendously.
Kyle Shanahan is still one of game's best play-callers
Kyle Shanahan entered his 10th season as the 49ers head coach with an overall record of 82–67 (.550). Thursday's 83rd victory was a reminder of how good of a head coach he is.
Shanahan put on a masterclass of calling plays, with a signature balanced attack – 205 passing yards to 174 rushing yards – reminding his NFC West rival of his strength behind the playsheet.
It was noticeable among the Netflix analysts, too.
"Kyle Shanahan put on a show from a play calling perspective. It was just unbelievable," Netflix analyst and Super Bowl 52 MVP Nick Foles said. "The system worked. Brock Purdy, huge game, looked amazing all day. Looked comfortable, even on the interception. He knows why that happens. He looked amazing. The system works. Man, it was fun to watch them do their thing."
Next man up
Injuries have been a consistent issue for the 49ers. That has already continued in 2026, with injuries to rookie wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling and tight end Jake Tonges. In next man up fashion, other players stepped up in their absence.
Demarcus Robinson tallied two catches for 50 yards and a touchdown after Stribling left the game with an ankle injury. Deebo Samuel Sr.'s return resulted in six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown, adding another weapon for Purdy.
The Niners were able to pull away. Finding ways to win despite being hobbled isn't anything new.
Purdy missed eight games in 2025 with shoulder and toe injuries. Brandon Aiyuk didn't play in 2025 at all, spending the season on the PUP list. Receiver Ricky Pearsall missed nine games with knee and ankle injuries and he's now out for the 2026 season after undergoing PCL surgery.
Kittle missed seven games with a hamstring injury last season, later tearing an Achilles in the wild card round vs. the Philadelphia Eagles. Bosa missed 16 games with a knee injury and Warner missed 13 games with an ankle injury.
Despite all of that, they still finished with a 12-5 record in 2025.
It's unfortunate seeing players go down, but there has to be a little optimism that the 49ers seem to embody "next man up" effectively.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What did we learn from 49ers in Week 1 win against Rams in Australia?
