49ers Cook Rams in Melbourne: Purdy Drops 3 TDs in 27-7 Beatdown

Melbourne gets a full dose of 49ers football

The San Francisco 49ers turned the NFL's first regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, into a 27-7 flex over the Los Angeles Rams. They racked up 379 yards of offense, and after the Rams grabbed a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter, San Francisco outscored them 24-0 the rest of the way.

That closing stretch was ugly for L.A.: a fumble, an interception and two turnovers on downs. The Rams lost five games last season by a combined 17 points. They lost this one by 20.

Brock Purdy cooks with three touchdowns

Purdy threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the first 49ers quarterback with three passing scores in a season opener since Colin Kaepernick in 2013, according to ESPN Research. He welcomed Deebo Samuel Sr. back with a 15-yard touchdown pass to cap an 11-play, 99-yard drive — San Francisco's first 99-yard drive since Week 2 of the 2024 season.

Purdy also connected with Demarcus Robinson on a 39-yard score and found new weapon Mike Evans for a 2-yard touchdown. No mercy, no letup.

Mike Evans says hello

In his 49ers debut, Evans hauled in six receptions for 49 yards and a score. That 2-yard grab extended his streak to 13 consecutive seasons with a receiving touchdown, tied with Zach Ertz for the longest active streak in the NFL, per ESPN Research. It was also his 27th TD catch from inside the 5 since 2020. The 49ers had 22 as a team in that span before today.

Rams offense runs out of gas

Matthew Stafford finished with 155 passing yards and one interception, and for the first time since Week 16 of 2024, he had no passing touchdowns in a game. The lone Rams score came from Kyren Williams on a 5-yard run. Late in the fourth, L.A. pulled Stafford and gave Stetson Bennett his first regular-season reps.

Los Angeles had chances. It did not have answers.

Defense delivers the knockout

Renardo Green picked off Stafford. Dre Greenlaw punched the ball out of Tyler Higbee's hands for a fumble. The 49ers stuffed a fourth-and-goal from inside the 1-yard line. Eddy Pineiro drilled a 56-yard field goal. And more than 100,000 fans packed the place in Melbourne to watch the Rams get buried.

San Francisco's long flight home? A whole lot sweeter.