The Los Angeles Rams were atrocious in their 27-7 season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers, and while some are blaming the team's lackluster performance on their intense travel schedule, the jet lag suffered on the journey had zero impact on the result.
How can we say that? Because in Melbourne, Australia, the 49ers put on a display against the Rams that we have witnessed time and time again. The 49ers did nothing different on Thursday compared to what they have done in their last two trips to SoFi Stadium.
The travel schedule did not force defensive coordinator Chris Shula into his soft zone defense that constantly leaves the underbelly of the secondary exposed. Travel didn't change the fact that Shula's linebackers continued to be picked
on in coverage. Travel isn't the reason Quentin Lake kept getting targeted, remaining on an island despite the 49ers' clear intention to go after the safety.
While fatigue from travel does factor in, those same factors occur every week in the NFL. And while their extended flight does take a toll on the body, teams travel from east to east in the middle of the season, dealing with wear-and-tear and early starts in opposite time zones. Teams have been sluggish before. They have found ways to win. The Rams were simply outcoached.
We could spend all day dissecting the issues with the defense, as there are plenty. The bigger issue was the pedestrian nature of an offense that led the league in passing efficiency and scoring a year ago. Matthew Stafford looked out of his element, as if he's forcing throws again because he can't figure out the defensive puzzle.
Sean McVay, Kliff Kingsbury, Nate Scheelhaase, Dave Ragone. Influential voices in the design of the offense. All former coordinators. Raheem Morris had them in a blender. The Rams failed to stay ahead of the chains, setting themselves up in difficult situations on second and third down – situations that were exacerbated by the lack of playmaking skills on the field.
Puka Nacua, Kyren Willians, Blake Corum, and the offensive line (at times) appeared to be the only elements of the offense that showed up. Where are Davante Adams and the short pass? What does every target to Adams require him to go downfield? Where was the evolution of their multi-tight end offense? Where is their WR3? Where is the evolution of their run-blocking designs? Why are the Rams still using Nacua as a lead blocker when the 49ers control the box, especially with Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw on the other side?
Are those questions just from the game, or are those questions ones from last season? How about failing to score touchdowns off turnovers? What about the QB sneak on fourth-and-1 at the goal line? On a "got to have it" play, McVay calls a play that he's criticized in the past. Stafford has never been good at quarterback sneaks for the Rams. Why? Probably because he's 38 years old. Stop being cute, because it never works, and we all know it won't.
We think about the beatdown of the Jacksonville Jaguars in London last season as evidence that McVay understands overseas travel. What we fail to forget is that their blowout win came down to the introduction of their 13 personnel offense. So if McVay and company can create a whole new offense in a week, why were they so predictable after having months to prepare? Travel doesn't affect any of that.
The Rams were in this game long enough to win if they simply played better in the second half. Jet lag isn't an excuse when it's the same story, just in a new location. Kyle Shanahan has always had McVay's number in the regular season, and when both the 49ers and the Rams are at full strength, the Rams falter ... nearly every time.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' lopsided loss to 49ers had nothing to do with Australia travel
