When the 49ers and the Rams open Week 1 of their seasons, they will do so on quite a massive road trip. The two teams are set to travel to Melbourne, Australia, to take part in the first-ever NFL game in the country. But the two franchises are taking different approaches in their travel itineraries leading up to the game.
The Pacific Ocean is a massive body of water, and the flight will take about 17 hours for both teams. The 49ers, however, are opting to head overseas a week early to allow their players time to acclimate to the time change and jet lag they'll face – which can reportedly take up to three days.
49ers going to Australia a week early vs. the Rams going 24 hours before kickoff Mind you this is a 17 hour flight The theory for the Rams player’s
bodies won’t have enough time for the jet lag and time zones to kick in and impact them. They’re gonna land play the game within…
— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) September 3, 2026
Meanwhile, the Rams are going to make the trip just one day before kickoff, with the idea that they won't be on the ground long enough for jet lag and the time change to set in and affect their bodies – thereby minimizing the impact on their circadian rhythms.
Which method will play out best? Well, there's no definitive answer one way or another. But there's no doubt the time change and the differing approaches to travel will have some impact on the game. We'll have to wait and see which team's gamble pays off better.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: 49ers, Rams take vastly different approaches to Week 1 Australia trip
