By admin 
The San Francisco 49ers made the right decision in getting to Australia a week early, if result of their season-opening win over the Los Angeles Rams is any indication.
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The 49ers got their season started on the right foot at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground, thumping the preseason Super Bowl favorites, 27-7.
The competing science-backed approaches were the talk of the lead-up into the game played on Friday morning in Australia — and Thursday night back in California. The 49ers arrived a week early for a full week of practice, while the Rams arrived just over a day before kickoff, thinking they would remain on California time and not worry about acclimating to the 17-hour time difference.
The move might pay off for the Rams after they return home and gear up for a Monday night game against the New York Giants, but it didn’t on Thursday.
The 49ers defense was up to the task and the offense was sharp. It didn’t hurt that the Rams appeared sleepy while reigning MVP Matthew Stafford was out of sync, so much so he was taken out with 3:29 left in the game.
Here are some takeaways from San Francisco’s impressive win to open the regular season.
49ers defense up to the task against sleepy Rams offense
The 49ers defense hit the ground running with new coordinator Raheem Morris pulling the strings.
San Francisco limited Stafford to 15 of 25 for 155 yards, no touchdowns, an interception and a paltry 61.2 passer rating. They forced two turnovers, and spurred a 14-point swing with a goal line stand stopping Stafford on a fourth-down sneak in the third quarter. Deebo Samuel’s first touchdown capping a 99-yard drive made it 24-7, essentially giving the 49ers a 14-point swing.
Nick Bosa, despite missing all of training camp and the preseason, was one of the best players on the field, finishing with two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit and four combined tackles. Fred Warner was back after his season-ending ankle injury last season, making 11 tackles, breaking up a pass and forcing a fumble.
Renardo Green logged his first interception of the season after being benched in last year’s divisional round loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
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The defense’s only blemishes were trying to stop the run early on and a long play for Puka Nacua in the first half that led to the Rams’ only touchdown. Otherwise, San Francisco allowed just 290 yards of offense to the team that finished last season ranked first in scoring and yardage.
Mike Evans headlines new weapons
A lot was made of Mike Evans’ lack of availability in training camp. But he said leading into Week 1 he didn’t need the practice time.
It appears he was right.
Evans in his 49ers debut had six catches on seven targets for 49 yards and scored his first touchdown, coming on a patented fade route that hasn’t been in the 49ers’ arsenal in years. Five of his catches converted third downs, including his score.
Elsewhere, Christian McCaffrey narrowly out-rushed rookie running back Kaelon Black. McCaffrey had 68 yards on 10 carries, while Black added 65 yards on 14 carries. The workload made it clear the 49ers are dialing it back with McCaffrey after he turned 30 earlier this summer.
Purdy was predictably sharp, completing 25 of 34 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns. Purdy threw an interception but bounced back by leading scoring drives on four of the next five possessions, not including a missed field goal on the offense’s last series.
The offense converted 7 of 12 on third down, and outgained the Rams 379-290. Mega-star defensive end Myles Garrett was nullified by Kyle Shanahan, finishing without his name being on the stat sheet: no tackles, sacks, quarterback back hits or any other meaningful statistics.
Another unwelcome injury to a key player
Rookie receiver De’Zhaun Stribling had to be helped off the field midway through the second quarter after suffering what appeared to be a non-contact injury to his left leg. He had been in the medical tent earlier in the game but returned to play. Stribling came up lame after running an in-cutting route. He was carted off the field with his right cleat removed.
The 49ers announced in the second half that Stribling was ruled out with an ankle injury.
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Tight end Jake Tonges also exited the game with an apparent leg injury.