Sean McVay Hopes The Rams Won’t Play Another Game In Australia After Week 1 Loss

After a lackluster season-opening loss, Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said he will not be thinking about Australia for a very long time.

The Rams played division rival the San Francisco 49ers and fell 27-7 in Melbourne, Australia.

“We’re not playing in Australia ever again, I hope,” McVay told reporters Thursday. “Not because it wasn’t a great atmosphere; that’ll get taken out of context.” 

As of now, no teams are scheduled for a future matchup; the NFL has a multiyear agreement to return to Australia. The Rams are one of four teams, along with the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders, to hold marketing rights in Australia through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. A future trip to Australia is likely for the Rams.

Heading into the game, the Rams were scrutinized for their travel decision as they would arrive the day before the game. The 49ers traveled to Melbourne a week in advance. McVay and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan tried to downplay the travel factor after the game.

“It’s almost like you try to do the ‘Men in Black’ thing where you say, ‘Hey, I don’t remember what happened. That was so long ago,'” McVay said Thursday. 

In preseason, the Rams were betting favorites to win the Super Bowl after trading for defensive end Myles Garrett, who won the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award and holds the record for the most sacks in a regular season. With Rams legend Aaron Donald coming out of retirement, the Rams defense is expected to give offenses across the league nightmares.

The Rams won’t let the loss affect them as they prepare for their Week 2 game against the New York Giants. Only four teams have started the season 0-2 and gone on to play in the Super Bowl. The last team to do so was the 2007 Giants.