San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has had his fair share of comments since the NFL announced that his team would play the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, most notably claiming that the Rams lobbied to play the 49ers in this game.
Arriving in Melbourne last week, the 49ers have spent time exploring the city and making connections with the people they'll play in front of this Thursday. Always one to talk down about his rival, Shanahan believes the league did the Rams a favor by allowing Los Angeles to take away a "home game," as the 49ers' fanbase has often come out in full force for games at SoFi Stadium.
Shanahan said he believes the 49ers will have the same advantage down under with their fans taking over the Melbourne Cricket
Ground.
“I see it as one home game a year in L.A., just the way our fans take over that stadium,” Shanahan said, via the New York Post. “So, it was disappointing to let them off the hook and get them out of that.”
If the Rams did choose the 49ers as their opponent just to have the same issues occur in a new country would be a bit embarrassing. There's also a good chance Shanahan is talking just to talk. We won't know until game day.
However, what cannot be understated is that both teams have no current film on each other from this season and while the 49ers did add talent such as Mike Evans, the Rams overhauled their entire defense with superstars like Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie.
The Rams were always planning on executing an overhaul, while the 49ers hired former Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris for their DC opening.
Considering the familiarity between both sides, perhaps the timing could also have played a factor. Not sure if Shanahan ever voiced that possibility.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Kyle Shanahan says NFL let Rams ‘off the hook’ with Australia home game
