49ers Dominate Down Under: 3 Takeaways From The Niners’ Win Over The Rams

Lets slow the “super team” chatter around the Los Angeles Rams.

Just for now.

Australia was not good to the Rams, who looked tired and sloppy in their season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners took total control of the game, largely by controlling the line of scrimmage. By the fourth quarter, the Rams never really knocked on contention — slipping deeper and deeper into defeat.

Its important to remember that Week 1 lies. In other words, theres a long, long season ahead. And this game — which took place roughly 8,000 miles from Los Angeles — wont tell us everything we need to know about either team.

But theres no denying it: the 49ers looked dominant. And the Rams looked … dominated.

Here are my takeaways:

It was brutal to watch rookie receiver DeZhaun Stribling get carted off with an injury in the first half. Thats another injury to another young receiver — after wide receiver Ricky Pearsall headed to IR before the season started. 

But Purdy didnt look shorthanded. Not in the least.

Tight end George Kittle was back in action despite a quick return from his Achilles injury last year. Receiver Mike Evans looked like the chain-mover, with a touchdown or a first down on all six of his catches. 

In other words, Evans was everything that they hoped hed be when they signed him for $42.4 million and three years. 

Even Deebo Samuel looked young again — like his old 49ers self — with contributions in the passing game (48 receiving yards), running game (12 yards) and on special teams (74 yards).

Christian McCaffrey was, of course, outstanding. But it was rookie running back Kaelon Black who was the biggest surprise. He finished with 14 carries for 65 yards. And took the load off McCaffrey at this early phase in the season.

In short, the 49ers offense looked awesome. It looked deep. It looked peak Shanahan, with a swath of weapons that should help Purdy play at a really high level — even when facing what everyone had expected to be the NFLs defense (in L.A.).

It looked built to last into January and maybe even February. 

For all the discussion about which team planned their travel correctly, both quarterbacks looked sluggish in the first half. In fact, they both threw brutal interceptions — in the same fashion … on back-to-back drives. Twins! 

Purdy threw directly at a dropping safety, Quentin Lake, in an attempt for George Kittle, but Lake picked off the throw easily. And then a few plays later, Matthew Stafford floated a ball toward receiver Puka Nacua and Renardo Green backpedaled into position for a pick.

You can try all you want to avoid jet lag, but it always wins.

That said, Stafford looked worse than Purdy.

Stafford aired a few balls so high that they proved uncatchable. He forced a dangerous throw to Davante Adams near the end of the first half. And he looked completely stumped by the 49ers pressure, which they generated without having to send many blitzes. 

For the game, Stafford finished 15 of 25 for 155 yards and an interception.

Even Rams head coach Sean McVay looked a little jet-lagged, calling a QB sneak on the goal line on fourth-and-1 in the third quarter. And very much unsurprisingly, Stafford, who is notoriously bad at sneaks, couldnt convert.

On the whole, it felt like the reigning MVP was processing at a slower clip than normal.

Maybe it wouldnt hurt to get Aaron Donald into the mix on this defensive line?

I thought there would be an embarrassment of riches. I thought the Rams defensive front would be unstoppable. I thought the hype was real.

But Myles Garrett finished this game with zero sacks and zero QB hits — even with Purdy dropping back 34 times. Garretts pressure total was solid, up to five, per Next Gen Stats. But theres no way he made the impact that he wouldve hoped. And thats a real credit to Williams, the 49ers left tackle who was an absolute beast in pass protection again