Week 1 Preview - TNF 49ers vs Rams
The San Francisco 49ers take on the Los Angeles Rams on the first Thursday Night Football of the 2026 NFL season. The game is at 5:35 PST.
We are all the way back, folks. And we are kicking off this season in Melbourne, Australia, where the 49ers are currently practicing.
The 49ers lead the all-time series between these teams with a 79-72-3 record. Head coaches Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay both took over their respective franchises in 2017, and Shanahan has the edge, with an 11-8 record.
Injury Report
Rams:
DL Aaron Donald is OUT, recently un-retired.
All other Rams are expected to play,
49ers:
DT Alfred Collins is OUT, torn patellar tendon. Collins will miss the entire season.
DT James Thompson Jr is listed as questionable with a hamstring issue.
The 49ers had several players limited in practice on Wednesday, but nobody else on the injury report. All are expected to play.
Matchups to Watch
49ers Run Game:
Particularly their outside running game, as they face off against the Rams, who owned one of the best run defenses from 2025. And the Rams added Myles Garrett on the edge, only improving their run defense.
The 49ers ranked 32nd in outside rushes in 2025, and had a bottom 5 run game overall. There is a lot that contributed to that last season, which I have discussed throughout the offseason. Whether it was not having a downfield threat for defenses to worry about, Christian McCaffrey potentially having just lost a step, or the 49ers offensive line not being particularly strong. They all likely played some role. Will adding Mike Evans, and even De'Zhaun Stribling, make a difference? What about rookie RB Kaelon Black's explosiveness? He showed the ability to hit the holes on outside zone in the preseason.
With those additions, the 49ers run game could be fixed, but we may not even notice in Week 1. Los Angeles added Myles Garrett, one of the best run defenders off the edge in the NFL! To an already elite run defense that is anchored by Poona Ford on the interior!
The 49ers may have made the necessary additions to improve their run game, but we might not see the fruits in Week 1, simply due to a dominant Rams front.
This matchups screams mismatch, so it will be interesting to see where each team stands to start the 2026 season.
Rams Linebackers:
I just raved about the Rams defensive front, it should be elite in all facets. I didn't even mention Byron Young, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and eventually Aaron Donald. And LA added two new cornerbacks in Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson.
But the linebacking group remains a weakness. In my offseason article series, I reviewed LB Omar Speights, who is once again expected to start 17 games. In short, I was extremely unimpressed. He is heavily influenced by play-action. And the 49ers love to run play-action.
The 49ers also possess perhaps the two most dominant over-the-middle skill players of this generation, in Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle. Now, Kittle is coming off an achilles tear in January and his role could potentially be limited in Week 1. Even if he plays, how dominant will he be? And McCaffrey is coming off a 450 touch season, will he still look fresh and explosive?
The Rams other starting LB is Nate Landman, who is great coming downhill. He can lay a hit and force a fumble, but is not great as a cover backer. So the Rams appear to be vulnerable over the middle of the field, at least against the pass. With these LBs starting, they ranked 25th against play-action and 26th against intermediate passing in 2025. Now, with this incredible defensive front, will the linebackers have time to be exposed in coverage? It's possible the defensive line applies pressure so quickly that it does not matter.
Exposing the middle of the field is Kyle Shanahan's bread and butter, but does he have the weapons for it in Week 1? And will it even matter with the state of the Rams linebackers? This is likely the matchup the 49ers will need to take advantage of in order to control, and win, this Week 1 divisional game.
New Additions:
A vague category, but both teams made some notable additions in this offseason, and Week 1 will be the first time we see these shiny new toys.
I've mentioned who is new to the Rams.
DE Myles Garrett, the reigning DPOY
CB Trent McDuffie, All-Pro
CB Jaylen Watson
They had no notable offensive additions who I expect to play a role in Week 1. In fact, there really aren't any other players at all that LA added this offseason who will play a role on Thursday. Los Angeles went big this offseason.
Here are the top additions for San Francisco that I expect to play a significant role this week.
WR Mike Evans
DT Osa Odighizuwa
LB Dre Greenlaw
EDGE Romello Height, rookie 3rd round pick
WRs Deebo Samuel and De'Zhaun Stribling will likely split a role early on, I imagine. But both will be integral to the 49ers gameplan. And the starting LG spot is up in the air, but it will play a big role against this Rams defensive line.
So the 49ers have a brand new receiving core, and the Rams have two new starting CBs. Immediately an interesting matchup between new additions to each of these teams. Will the 49ers want to attack vertically, or is it going to be a game of in-cuts? I would guess the latter.
The Rams adding two elite players to their already great defensive front will be troubling for this 49ers offensive line, especially with a question mark at left guard. It actually seems like San Francisco might alternate between rookie Carver Willis and 2025 7th round pick Connor Colby in Week 1. That will be food for this Rams front. Will Los Angeles be able to rush four all game and still get pressure? That's game changing against the 49ers offense.
And the 49ers added two notable figures, plus (hopefully) getting Nick Bosa back, to their defensive line. This was a D-Line that ranked at the bottom of the NFL in pass rush production, whether it be pressures or sacks. The Rams offensive line was rock solid last season, and it helped that Matthew Stafford gets the ball out fairly quickly. It will be interesting to track how much of an impact Odighizuwa and Height have in their first year as 49ers.
Odighizuwa has been one of the best interior pass rushers since he entered the NFL, and San Francisco had the worst interior rush in 2025. The question really surrounds the 25 year old rookie, Romello Height. Can he be a great designated pass rusher right away? These two factors will work together. Interior pressure doesn't matter if nobody forces the QB to step up in the pocket. And edge pressure doesn't matter if the QB has a clean pocket to step into.
Stafford was elite last year, but his ranks among NFL QBs fell a fair amount when under pressure, going from top 3 ranks to closer to 10th in efficiency metrics. Pressure gives the 49ers a legitimate chance to win in Week 1.
Prediction:
49ers 26, Rams 27
Week 1 predictions are always tough, as we base everything on our personal thoughts. And I do think this will be a close game.
There is a chance the Rams offense just blows the 49ers out of the water, as San Francisco is thin up front and adjusting to a new scheme.
And yes, the Rams defense is stacked. But Kyle Shanahan will put up points, and do so efficiently. This LA defense is better, but so is this 49ers offense. The 49ers scored 26 in both 2025 matchups, with Mac Jones at QB.
I expect this game to come down to special teams success and turnovers. If the 49ers fall behind and Brock Purdy is forced into obvious passing situations, it is in his nature to throw into tight windows. And while he often does so successfully, Purdy does not possess an elite arm. If he has to play this style for an entire half, he will turn the ball over.
Our first 49ers preview of the 2026 season is complete!
Let me know your thoughts on this Week 1 matchup, what you think will have the biggest impact on Thursday, and your Week 1 predictions!
I have posted my full Week 1 predictions for the entire NFL slate on my Twitter/X, @GridironGoldM_.
Stay tuned for more NFL and 49ers articles, news, and opinions!
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