The Los Angeles Rams may want to rethink their travel plans the next time they have to cross an ocean.
Particularly if they play the San Francisco 49ers in Australia again.
After all, the Niners' decision to head out to Melbourne over a week in advance of the Thursday, Sept. 10 (U.S. date) tilt at Melbourne Cricket Grounds.
While the 10:35 a.m. (local) kickoff time certainly would've felt a bit weird for both clubs, San Francisco clearly looked more energized, especially in the second half of the one-sided 27-7 Week 1 victory over L.A.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles' decision to head out two days prior to kickoff looks worse and worse in the aftermath.
49ers win over Rams vindicates decision to travel to Australia early
Sure, there aren't likely going to be too many Rams players and coaches who'll openly speak about how their late travel arrangements had a negative impact.
"I don’t believe (the travel plan) is why we didn’t play well enough," head coach Sean McVay subsequently told reporters after his L.A. team lost. "I really don’t."
Perhaps. But, if numbers say anything, the fact the 49ers outgained Los Angeles 379 yards to 290 and averaged nearly a full yard more per play is a decent indicator. And even those fans who watched could observe how L.A. looked sluggish, particularly after halftime, while the Niners seemed to only gain momentum in the second half, putting up 17 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters.
Quarterback Brock Purdy completely outplayed Los Angeles' QB, reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, and it wasn't particularly close.
In nearly every element, San Francisco was superior.
49ers clearly won the public relations battle over Rams for Australia
The NFL granted L.A. marketing rights to Australia, and this was supposed to be a "home" game for Los Angeles.
Perhaps the league should rethink that approach, especially in light of the 49ers being the country's most popular team.
The Rams failed to help their cause by showing up late, too, whereas the Niners' early arrival allowed them to meet fans, get immersed in the community and win over the neutrals, who otherwise may have been inclined to pledge themselves to another NFC West rival.
As a result, it was painfully obvious the bulk of fans in attendance were rooting for San Francisco, and it's safe to say many of them now have lifelong allegiances to the 49ers after the experience.
The Niners clearly won on the public-relations front, charming the Melbourne locals way ahead of time for an internationally publicized game.
L.A. did the polar opposite, and it showed.
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