The NFL's international expansion reaches new ground with the league's first game in Australia.
Beyond the standalone spotlight, the NFC West matchup figures to be appointment viewing after the Rams became the biggest story of the offseason with wave after wave of marquee additions to their defense. Aaron Donald's return will have to wait after the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year stayed at home following his late call to come out of retirement to join his former team. But Los Angeles should be able to fully unleash Myles Garrett to counter Kyle Shanahan's prolific attack.
The oft-injured 49ers appear to be trending in the right direction with the expected returns of Nick Bosa and George Kittle from season-ending injuries, but San Francisco
will still be hard-pressed to keep pace with reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford, especially with its edge rush already shorthanded entering the season. Without Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers will be counting on veteran Mike Evans and rookie De'Zhaun Stribling to make waves against the Rams' new cornerback tandem of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, who figure to be tested with a peppering of quick hits from a passing attack looking to mitigate Garrett's impact.
San Francisco's overime escape last October marked the only time in the last five matchups that the 49ers have come out ahead of the Rams.
49ers at Rams score predictions
Adam Kaufman: Rams 27-24
Some seem panicked over the Rams' choice for a shorter trip to Australia, but Sean McVay seems to know what he's doing. Under McVay, Los Angeles is 3-0 in international games, winning 33-0, 24-10 and 35-7. All decisive wins. This game may not be that, but the Rams will do enough to get the best of the rival 49ers.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Rams 31-23
How the Rams' reloaded defense debuts figures to be one of the most captivating plot points of Week 1. Los Angeles might not be in peak form right away, but a star-studded group still could overpower the rival 49ers.
Nate Davis: 49ers 24-23
The Rams haven't needed Aaron Donald to beat the Niners in four of their past five meetings, so his absence in Australia shouldn't be a big deal – especially since reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and the rest of a new-look D are making the trip to Melbourne. The bigger concern for the Rams might be their decision to play on adrenaline juxtaposed to the 49ers' decision for Down Under acclimation and rest. And even if HC Kyle Shanahan doesn't know what time it is, you know – deep down – he's still salty about having to make this trip. But at least he's got nearly all of his roster back. No 17-0 season in L.A.
Where to watch 49ers at Rams
- Matchup: Rams vs. 49ers
- Date: Sept. 10
- Time: 8:35 p.m.
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Location: Victoria, Australia
- TV: Netflix
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rams vs 49ers: NFL Week 1 score predictions
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