George Kittle isn't buying the narrative that the Los Angeles Rams lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne simply because of a rushed travel schedule.
The 49ers throttled the Rams 27-7 in the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia, with Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel all catching touchdown passes from Brock Purdy. The 49ers spent roughly a week acclimating in Melbourne beforehand, while the Rams flew in just 28 hours before kickoff. That fueled plenty of speculation that jet lag, not talent, decided the outcome.
Kittle pushed back on that idea during his appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show."
"I think we're a pretty good team," Kittle said, "so I think straight up we beat the Rams."
Kittle was honest that San Francisco's
own extended stay wasn't exactly smooth sailing, either.
"After being there for two days, I was totally in a brain fog and sleepy and tired," Kittle said. "I think that would have been tough to play a football game on, but the Rams went out and did it their way."
The great start to the year continued for the 49ers after San Francisco cruised to a win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 2. With a big international trip and a bigger division win behind them, Kittle and thre 49ers are hoping to carry their momentum through the rest of the season.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers All-Pro won't let Rams use travel as excuse for Week 1 beatdown
