The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers are set to face off in the NFL's first-ever Australia showdown in Week 1 this season. The matchup has already stoked its share of controversy and entertainment months in advance.
In order to witness the historical clash, Rams fans (and 49ers faithful as well) will have to take an extra step. The NFL announced Thursday that the game will stream exclusively on Netflix. It won't be on a cable channel. It won't be on Peacock or Amazon Prime.
Instead, viewers will need to sign into yet another streaming service. If you don't have an account and want to watch the game, you'll have to sign up. For anyone wondering, Netflix unfortunately does not offer free trials.
The whole thing will no doubt rub many spectators the wrong way, but irksome as it is, it's a small price to pay for fans of either team to see the league kick off its Down Under debut.
NFL knows Rams fans will jump through hoops of fire to watch their team
NFL fans who watched the 2024 and 2025 Christmas slates are already familiar with Netflix as a streaming platform for the sport. Of course, none of the past games involved the Rams. Now, Blue and Yellow backers have been roped into the fold.
For a game of this magnitude, being the Rams' first of the season against a high-profile rival, and in an inaugural location, giving into the NFL's continued streaming expansion feels like a necessary concession. Roger Goodell knows it, and so do the owners. Okay, you got us.
One aspect that could make the game even more exciting is the fact that 49ers players won't have a chance to start dropping like flies before the two teams meet. In recent seasons, injuries have plagued San Francisco's star-studded roster to an alarming degree.
While the Rams offense certainly appreciates not having to face Fred Warner or Nick Bosa, at the bottom of their hearts, most fans would rather see the opponent at full strength. It makes for better competition and more satisfying bragging rights. Hopefully, both rosters will be mostly intact by Week 1.
Both fanbases have the date circled on their calendars: Thursday, September 10, at 5:35 PM PT. Coaches and players have already traded barbs over the much-anticipated matchup. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan claimed that the Rams lobbied to play a designated home game overseas because "49ers fans take over SoFi stadium."
Horns edge rusher Jared Verse can't wait to face his former college teammates, a personal rivalry that only intensifies the team's natural vitriol.
The fact that the matchup will take place in a historical setting, as the first-ever American football game hosted by Melbourne Cricket Ground, only adds to the must-see nature of the event. Keep those Netflix passwords handy.
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