Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes as the San Francisco 49ers dominated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in the first ever NFL regular-season game in Australia. Purdy passed for 205 yards and scores to Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel in front of 100,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Rams had entered the 2026 NFL season tipped as Super Bowl frontrunners after their blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett and the return of Aaron Donald. Instead, it was Purdy and Kyle Shanahan delivering a stark reminder of a fiercely competitive NFC West division.

Australia's sporting capital revelled in its first taste of American football, with the 49ers winning many Aussie hearts by arriving a week earlier than the Rams. Kyren Williams scored the NFL's first Australian touchdown on a five-yard rush. The San Francisco defense frustrated NFL MVP Matthew Stafford into a 15-of-25 performance for just 155 yards.

Rams coach Sean Mc Vay admitted his team was outplayed in every facet, calling it a humbling day. Garrett was practically a non-factor in his Rams debut after missing much of training camp.