By admin 
Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams wanted their season to start on a different note. Instead, the San Francisco 49ers handed them a 27-7 loss in the 2026 NFL season opener, played in Australia, and exposed problems in nearly every phase of the game.
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Matthew Stafford, fresh off his 2025 MVP campaign, managed just 155 passing yards on 15-of-25 throwing. Myles Garrett, the reigning sack leader, didn’t get to the quarterback a single time.
Los Angeles entered the year as the popular Super Bowl pick, and San Francisco made that look like a stretch. Whether it was the travel, the preparation or simple execution, the result raised real questions about a team many had circled as the NFC’s best.
Some pointed to the coaching matchup, with McVay and Chris Shula getting outworked by Kyle Shanahan and Raheem Morris. Others wondered how much Los Angeles still misses Aaron Donald up front.
Either way, the head coach wasn’t interested in offering excuses once the cameras turned on. McVay didn’t hide from what had just happened. His opening words to reporters in the
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“The 49ers outplayed us in every facet. I didn’t do nearly a good enough job. This is a humbling day for us. This will define us only if we allow it to,” McVay said.
For all the offseason buzz around the Rams’ additions, the fans were surely not expecting such a blowout. McVay believes the game was there to be won, even though the 49ers were better prepared.
“There were many opportunities where maybe the game could’ve flipped, but they deserve the win. They were ready to go. We’ll look at it and see where we can improve and be better moving forward,” the head coach added.
Now the Rams turn to the tape as they prepare for the New York Giants in Week 2, a matchup that will also serve as Los Angeles’ home opener at SoFi Stadium.
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This story was originally published September 10, 2026 at 9:55 PM.