Despite all of the injuries in 2025, I was thoroughly impressed with this team. I remember they were without Brock Purdy for eight games due to a toe injury, Nick Bosa tore his ACL, Fred Warner broke his ankle, and in the Wild Card round against the Philadelphia Eagles, George Kittle tore his Achilles. Those are four extremely important pieces of their puzzle, and they were still able to navigate through adversity and push forward. I understand Kyle Shanahan has received his fair share of criticism over the years, but I can honestly say that last year was his best coaching job to date. If the 49ers had won the NFC West, he would have been my Coach of the Year. The saving grace of this football team was none other than Christian McCaffrey. You see the difference he makes when he’s on the field compared to when he isn’t. He’s the best running back in this league in my eyes, and he brings such a unique dynamic to this offense. This year, I’ll be watching to see if this defense can get back to playing that elite style of football, especially with key pieces returning to the field. When I watched them attempt to rush the passer in 2025, they could only consistently get home when they blitzed. I don’t think that will be the case this year with a healthy Nick Bosa and having Fred Warner back for a full year will also make a difference. Tonight, the 49ers will kick off their season against a division rival in Australia.

Rams (2025 Record: 12-5)

The same thing I’ve said about the Alabama Crimson Tide and Georgia Bulldogs in college football can be applied to this team as well: They don’t start from scratch or rebuild; they simply reload. They have earned a reputation for acquiring big names and being willing to move on from first-round draft picks to compete for championships. I respect their approach because they believe their window to compete and succeed is still open. Their move to acquire Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns reminded me of when they acquired Von Miller from the Denver Broncos during the 2021 season — and we all saw how that worked out for them. This is a Rams team that was one game away from the Super Bowl a year ago. At one point, they appeared to be running away with the top seed in the NFC playoffs before hitting some bumps along the way. How about the season Matthew Stafford put together last year? He won his first MVP and continues to play at the highest level as he enters another season at 38 years old. Everything is in place for the Rams to make noise this year. They have a top-three head coach in Sean McVay, one of the best offenses in football, and a defense that added the best player in football who also happens to be in his prime and they got Aaron Donald off his couch and out of retirement. They kick off their season tonight against a division rival.

49ers X-Factor: Dre Greenlaw

The 49ers were smart in bringing a familiar face back after he spent his 2025 season with the Denver Broncos. Dre was bought back because of the value and experience he brings to the Linebacker group. Dre has the quickness to cover play action and crossers, he can burst through gaps and make tackles in the run game and he also has the speed that allows him to erase the explosive plays. We will get to see him and Fred Warner team up to form a nasty Linebacker duo in the middle. I could see Dre recording a stat line of 10 tackles, a sack and a tackle for loss. If he can stay healthy, he will be another asset to an elite defense.

Rams X-Factor: Braden Fiske

I always say that when you play alongside a star defender, you benefit from the attention that player commands throughout the season. Just imagine all of the one-on-one opportunities Braden Fiske will see because of Myles Garrett’s presence.  Last year was Braden’s second season in the league, and it was a very up-and-down season. However, I expect him to bounce back and become a major contributor to this Rams defense. Braden can collapse the pocket from the interior of the defensive line and disrupt the quarterback’s timing. If he can put together a stat line of two sacks, multiple quarterback hits, or a forced fumble, it could completely change the outcome of this football game.

Final Thoughts

We had a game yesterday to kick off the 2026 season, and now we get another one tonight. This matchup will also mark the first-ever regular-season game in Australia. These are two teams that know each other very well, and this rivalry is usually a closely contested battle. Both teams made major additions this offseason, with the 49ers signing Mike Evans and the Rams acquiring Myles Garrett in a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Both players will make their debuts with their new teams tonight. I’ll be watching to see if the 49ers can establish Christian McCaffrey early against a Rams defensive front that knows it can take over a game at any moment. Running the football will slow down the pass rush, open up play-action opportunities, and keep the offense balanced. The 49ers must also protect Brock Purdy at all costs. If he is under constant pressure, the offense will become predictable and fall behind schedule, which plays directly into the hands of the Rams defense. The biggest key for San Francisco tonight is generating pressure on Matthew Stafford without blitzing. If the 49ers can consistently get home with four pass rushers, it will allow their secondary to focus on the Rams’ perimeter weapons. For the Rams, they must take advantage of explosive plays when they are available, whether that means Puka Nacua creating yards after the catch or Davante Adams making a big-time play. They need to take what the defense gives them, win the battle up front with their pass rush, disrupt Brock Purdy’s rhythm, and keep Matthew Stafford protected. This should be a physical game that stays close throughout and will likely be decided in the final minutes.

Prediction:

Rams 27, 49ers 24