WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. — The NFL season is inside arms attain, and the Los Angeles Rams look and sound prepared than ever to face off towards the San Francisco 49ers this Thursday. The 2 groups might be part of historical past, as that is the primary time the NFL is taking part in a daily season sport in Australia. Melbourne to be actual. The soccer world has simply lived by the final Sunday with out the beloved sport being performed on the gridiron. There are three important takeaways to know heading week
1. The 49ers have been in Australia for days, when will the Rams be part of them?
Kick off for the historic Aussie fan stuffed sport is on September tenth, and the Rams are nonetheless in America whereas the 49ers landed in Australia on September 4th. San Francisco's objective was to go a couple of week early in order that their our bodies would acclimate to the extraordinarily completely different timezone. Melbourne, Australia is 17 hours forward of California, which is astronomically greater than any timezone distinction that groups expertise inside The USA.
The Rams are taking a unique strategy. They’ve determined to stay to their common routine for so long as they probably may. The southern california group will journey on Tuesday night, and land in Melbourne Thursday morning. For them this might be about 24 hours earlier than kick off, as the sport might be performed in Australia on Friday at 10:35 am, to not get confused with the truth that it is going to be a Thursday 5:35 pm kick off right here in California.
Though there was criticism in regards to the Rams not giving their gamers and employees extra time forward of the sport to collect their bearing, 2025 MVP Matthew Stafford solely has optimistic issues to say. “I feel guys take pleasure in being house and having the chance to clearly go play over there’s actually cool, however I really feel assured in the way in which we’re going about it. Guys might be prepared come Friday morning.”
In fact Stafford who’s a transparent chief on this group being nothing however assured of their strategy is a optimistic, head coach Sean McVay additionally shared a transparent sentiment of believing in what they’re doing concerning their journey plan. McVay is aware of that the Rams employees have spent numerous time meticulously planning how this may play out, and the coach says that what's vital to him is that his gamers know that they’re doing what they suppose is greatest.
Though there is not going to be a lot time for them to acclimate to Australia time, McVay nonetheless has motive to imagine their our bodies might be rested and adjusted sufficient. He says they’ll, “sleep by the night time after which we’ll get there and we now have form of a rhythm.” McVay additionally made it clear that they’ll have snug preparations to do as a lot as they’ll to make sure their guys will sleep on the 16 hour flight. “It's a giant airplane, all people will be capable of get absolutely prolonged and lay out and be capable of get their full relaxation.”
2. Davante Adams has been voted captain forward of the 2026 season
The star veteran who’s coming into his thirteenth season within the NFL, and second season with the Rams, has been voted a group captain for the primary time with this squad. The broad receiver defined that himself or anybody else doesn’t want a “C” on their jersey to embody what it feels prefer to be a captain when it comes to management. The person himself who completed 1st within the NFl final season in touchdowns with 14, did share with the media the way it felt.
“It feels nice. It's clearly a fantastic feeling to be voted that.” Adams added, “it’s clearly an enormous honor. The extra time I get with this group, get to know my teammates and all people, clearly the tighter we turn out to be and the stronger we turn out to be as a group.”
Adams does extra of the motion than something. Like he stated, whether or not there’s a “C” on somebody's jersey or not, they’ll nonetheless lead. Evidently Adams focuses on guiding guys in the best course based mostly on his expertise. It’s clear that now second yr broad receiver Konata Mumpfield and Adams have constructed some kind of mentor mentee relationship. Adams sees the work ethic and potential in Mumpfield, and has been considerate in the case of serving to him come into his personal on this league. In fact this intentionality from Adams is just not unique to Mumpfield, and that’s the reason he’s again for yr two because the captain.
Head coach Sean McVay raved about Adams, “explaining that he exemplifies what it means to mannequin the way in which. “He by no means asks anyone to do something that he’s not doing. He’s so keen to share. He’s obtained a swag and presence that guys simply respect.”
3. Veteran duo Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams see promise on this Rams protection, almost definitely led by Aaron Donald
Aaron Donald, who has come out of retirement, and Stafford performed collectively for 3 seasons. Essentially the most celebratory season in fact being the one once they gained the Tremendous Bowl collectively. So at Sunday's apply when requested about Donald’s veteran presence, the quarterback spoke from expertise. “Clearly, he’s a man who’s achieved the whole lot you possibly can accomplish on the defensive facet of the ball on this sport.”
Stafford was laying or exaggerating. Donald is a 3 time NFL defensive participant of the yr, he’s an eight time all-pro, he gained rookie of the yr again in 2014, and the accolade each participant and coach need, he’s a Tremendous Bowl champion.
This would be the first time Adams performs on a group with Donald, and identical to anyone else he is aware of the expertise that he’ll produce on protection. What issues on high of that, is Donald’s character, and the way that echoes throughout the group because the veteran participant that he’s. “I do know the kind of individual that he’s and I know how he’s going to work and I know how he appears proper now.”