The NFL's first regular-season game in Australia is Sept 10. Can the 49ers upset the Rams in Melbourne?

On September 10, 2026, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in the NFL's first regular-season game played in Australia, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before a crowd of 100,021, among the largest in league history. Quarterback Brock Purdy threw three touchdown passes, to Mike Evans, Demarcus Robinson and Deebo Samuel, and finished with 205 passing yards. San Francisco's defense limited Los Angeles's offense, led by Matthew Stafford, to a single touchdown, controlling the game from the opening quarter.

The Rams had entered as favorites after a stronger 2025 campaign, but San Francisco's defensive front generated consistent pressure, disrupting Stafford's timing and forcing short fields that Purdy converted into points. The 20-point margin made the result a clear upset relative to pre-game expectations.

The matchup was part of the NFL's continued expansion of regular-season games abroad, following prior contests in London, Germany, Brazil and Spain, and drew significant attention in Australia as the league's first regular-season game on the continent.

Predict Six's community leaned against this outcome, with only 22% forecasting a 49ers win, making the consensus wrong on what became a decisive result rather than a close contest.