By admin 
Week 1 of the NFL season isn’t even in the books yet, but ESPN’s computer model has already changed its Super Bowl favorite.
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Coming into the 2026 season, the Los Angeles Rams had the best FPI grade (5.6) out of any team. That made sense considering they added Aaron Donald, Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie to a roster that already featured Puka Nacua and Matthew Stafford.
While there’s still plenty of time for the Rams to live up to the hype, there’s no denying they came out flat in Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. Their defense had no answer for Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan’s offense, as Sean McVay’s squad was handed a 27-7 lopss in the first-ever game in Melbourne.
“Probably only had two good drives, to be honest,” Stafford said postgame. “Not enough good stuff on offense. We didn’t do the things that we’re accustomed to doing. Too many times, we were on different pages. That starts with me.”
Thursday’s loss in Australia dropped the Rams from No. 1 in the FPI rankings to No. 4. The 49ers, meanwhile, have jumped up to the top spot.
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Rematch is coming this winter.
The 49ers certainly deserve credit for their performance against the Rams. Not only did Purdy step up (205 passing yards, three touchdowns), their defense held Stafford in check all game long.
Should this win make the 49ers the favorites to win the Super Bowl? We’re not sure, but they definitely put their division on notice.
Luckily for NFL fans, 49ers and Rams will meet again on Dec. 13 at Levi’s Stadium. Maybe, just maybe, that game will determine who gets the top seed in the NFC.
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This story was originally published September 11, 2026 at 7:00 AM.