Rams v 49ers Thursday Down Under: Contrasting Travel Philosophies Could Decide NFL’s Australian Debut

When it comes to traveling internationally, there is one opponent most mortals struggle to consistently defeat: jet lag. Crossing a couple of ocean time zones can leave travelers logy for days, caught in a cycle of fighting daytime fatigue and nighttime insomnia.The first National Football League regular-season game in Australia featuring the Los Angeles Rams against the San Francisco 49ers poses not only a match-up of NFC rivals, but also a contrast in travel strategy to beat jet lagThe historic matchup at the sold-out Melbourne Cricket Ground kicks off at 10:35 a.m. local time on Friday, Sept. 11, which translates to a Thursday evening prime-time broadcast in the United States at 8:35 p.m. ET/5:35 p.m. PT. The two franchises, both based in the Pacific Time Zone, deployed entirely opposite philosophies to tackle the brutal 16-hour trip.The 49ers, coached by Kyle Shanahan, opted for early acclimatization. They left California on Sept. 2, landing in Melbourne on Sept. 4, a full week ahead of the game. Somewhere during the trip, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris lost his 50th birthday on Sept. 3.San Francisco general manager John Lynch said that the team consulted with sports scientists, sleep experts, and medical professionals before locking in their itinerary. “We focused on doing a study from every angle,” Mr. Lynch told reporters. “It became clear to us that the best logistics for this trip, to put our players in the best position for success—not only down in Australia, but for the rest of the year—involved leaving early.”Mr. Shanahan noted that feedback from medical consultants stressed that athletes rarely feel normal until the third or fourth day following a 15-to-16-hour flight. “So, we’d like to go out seven days early,” he said. “But since it takes a day and a half to travel there, we’re going to go nine.”The Rams elected not to acclimate at all. The team was scheduled to depart Tuesday night, landing in Melbourne on Thursday—roughly 24 hours before game time. By keeping their stay brief, the Rams hope to keep their biological clocks anchored to Pacific Standard Time.When the game kicks off at 10:35 a.m. in Australia, it will feel like 5:35 p.m. to the Rams’ bodies—essentially a late-afternoon game.“It doesn’t mean that we think we’re right and a different approach is wrong,” Rams coach Sean McVay of the late-arrival strategy. “It’s just what we think is best based on the things that we’ve done and what we’ve learned over our time here.”Mr. McVay said his decision was influenced by the Rams’ successful trip to London last October. The team arrived on Saturday morning for a Sunday afternoon game and blew out the Jacksonville Jaguars, 35-7, at Wembley Stadium. Furthermore, under Mr. McVay, the Rams are 3-0 in international games, outscoring opponents by a combined margin of 92-17.But traveling to Australia offers a litmus test on how to deal with the massively long flight. The NFL is a copycat league. Coaches, front office executives and sports science departments across will be watching the outcome closely. If the Rams win and look fresh doing so, more franchises may shorten their overseas trips in favor of the in-and-out model. If San Francisco shows fresher legs, teams will likely stick with traditional early-arrival protocols.The NFL already holds a multi-year partnership with Visit Victoria to host regular-season games in Melbourne. Nine international games are scheduled this year and league owners have approved up to 10 games annually, starting in 2027. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has hinted at expanding the slate so every franchise plays aboard every year and continues to raise the possibility of hosting a future Super Bowl overseas.The Rams decision to arrive late may have an impact commercially, limiting their opportunity to expand their brand and make fans Down Under. The franchise was awarded international marketing rights to the Australian market in 2022 as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program. But the 49ers have charmed the Aussies by being seen out and interacting with locals. American journalist Dontay Atkinson posted on X, “The Rams are the “home team” and the party responsible for requiring the 49ers take that lengthy trip (and we all know why), and they’ve done exactly jack squat to sell the NFL brand or connect with Australians. Fly in, fly out, no contact. I’m sure the Aussies feel great about that snub.”

Rams v 49ers Thursday Down Under: Contrasting Travel Philosophies Could Decide NFL’s Australian Debut

Rams v 49ers Thursday Down Under: Contrasting Travel Philosophies Could Decide NFL’s Australian Debut

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