Above Image Credit: Predict Em
When: Thursday, Sept. 10th, 8:35 PM EST
Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne, Australia)
How to Watch: Netflix
The NFL will make history again when the league brings California vibes to Melbourne, Australia for a Thursday showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.
The NFL Goes Down Under
Thursday night will mark the first-ever NFL regular season game in Australia. Los Angeles will be the home team while the 49ers will be the visiting team.
The matchup will take place at Melbourne Cricket Ground, which will be the largest stadium ever to be used by the NFL at 100,000+ seats. Kickoff will start at 8:35 EST in the USA, which means 10:35 am Australia EST Friday morning.
Aaron Donald Is Back…But Not This Week
Aaron Donald‘s return to the field will have to wait as head coach Sean McVay revealed that he won’t be in the Rams opener. DE Myles Garrett, traded from the Browns, will take his place despite swelling in his knee.
Over a week ago, it was revealed that Donald was coming out of retirement to sign with his long-time team, the Rams. In fact, he was drafted to the Rams in 2014 back when the franchise was still in St. Louis and was part of the transition to LA in 2018.
Donald had many accolades prior to his retirement in 2024. He left a 10-time Pro Bowler, an 8-time First Team All-Pro, a 3-time AP Defensive Player of the Year, and a Super Bowl (56) champion.
49ers vs. Rams: Final Thoughts and Prediction
I think it’s smart for the Rams to play it safe with Donald. He should be ready to play when the time is right.
Meanwhile, Garrett’s knee should be okay as long as he doesn’t make any drastic moves. He’s going to need as much momentum as possible if he wants to stop TE George Kittle from getting any further.
San Francisco might also have DE Nick Bosa on the field. However, he is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last season, and his time could be short. Kittle tore his Achilles tendon back in January, but he’s expected to start Thursday.
Because it’s just the second game of the season, it will be too soon to tell how things will go with these revamped teams. Traveling almost 16 hours, the jet lag, and enduring the massive time zone changes can take a lot out of someone. In the end, it’s going to be worth it for the winner.
