​SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 09: Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball against Quentin Lake #37 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter of an NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Rams and 49ers will open the 2026 NFL season against each other in a highly anticipated NFC West showdown. The game is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 10, at 5:35 p.m. PT (8:35 p.m. ET) at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia, with the matchup streaming on Netflix.The rivalry has been competitive recently. Over the past three seasons, the teams have split their six regular-season meetings, with each team going 3-3. Most recently, the Rams dominated San Francisco 42-26 in Week 10 of 2025, after the 49ers had defeated Los Angeles earlier that season.That recent history adds another layer to an already important division matchup. With both teams entering 2026 expecting to compete for the NFC West, the season opener in Melbourne could set the tone for what should be another tightly contested rivalry.Key #1: Rams Offense – Run, Run, RunIf the Rams want to put Matthew Stafford and the offense in position to succeed against the 49ers, the formula could be simple: run, run and run some more.San Francisco has a new defensive coordinator in Raheem Morris, who knows Sean McVay extremely well from their time together in Los Angeles and Washington. Morris was the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons last season, and Atlanta handed the Rams an upset loss in Week 17. Stafford struggled in that matchup, throwing three interceptions, although Los Angeles was also missing several key offensive pieces.However, that game also exposed a potential weakness in Morris’ defense. The Rams actually ran the ball extremely well, piling up 115 rushing yards on just 20 attempts. Kyren Williams led the way with 13 carries for 92 yards, averaging an impressive 7.1 yards per attempt.McVay should take notice. Rather than immediately trying to attack through the air, the Rams need to force Morris and San Francisco’s defense to respect the run. Establishing Kyren Williams and Blake Corum could force the 49ers to bring additional defenders toward the line of scrimmage.That, in turn, could create the passing lanes Stafford needs to attack the second and third levels of the defense, where Puka Nacua can make plays.Key #2: Rams Defense – Limit Christian McCaffreyIf the Rams want to beat the 49ers, one of their biggest defensive priorities will be limiting Christian McCaffrey. The star running back has proven capable of hurting Los Angeles in multiple ways, particularly as a receiver out of the backfield.That was evident when the teams met in Week 5 last season. McCaffrey gave the Rams’ defense problems through the air, catching eight passes for 82 yards and a touchdown. His ability to create mismatches against linebackers and defensive backs made him diffic