Week 1
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
September 10, 2026
Melbourne Cricket Ground
NFC West Rivalry
Rams–49ers
California's oldest NFL rivalry
The Rams and 49ers have shared the NFC West since the division was created in 1970, making them its two longest-tenured members. Their meetings pit Southern California against the Bay Area in a series stretching back more than seven decades.
The Rivalry
This rivalry dates to 1950, when both clubs were establishing themselves on the West Coast. The Rams held the upper hand through the 1950s and 1960s and built a wide series lead, anchored by seven straight division crowns from 1973 to 1979. The balance flipped during the Joe Montana and Steve Young era, when San Francisco reeled off a 17-game winning streak between 1990 and 1998 and eventually overtook the all-time count. The 2000s saw the teams trade five-year stretches of dominance. When the Rams returned to Los Angeles in 2016, the Northern-versus-Southern California angle regained its edge, and both franchises soon climbed back to contention.
What's at Stake
Every meeting carries NFC West implications, and recent seasons have raised the temperature: both franchises have reached the Super Bowl in the past decade, and they clashed in the 2021 NFC Championship Game. The matchup splits California's two largest fan markets.
Famous Moments
- 1958 — The Rams routed San Francisco 56-7, the most lopsided result in the series.
- 1987 — San Francisco answered with its own blowout, a 48-0 shutout of the Rams.
- 1989 — The 49ers beat the Rams 30-3 in the NFC Championship Game en route to a Super Bowl title.
- 2021 — The Rams rallied from a 17-7 deficit to win the NFC Championship Game 20-17 and advance to Super Bowl LVI.
The Rams–49ers Games in 2026
The Two Teams
NFC West
Los Angeles Rams
SoFi Stadium · Inglewood
Champions in Cleveland, St. Louis and Los Angeles, the Rams have won two Super Bowls and returned to LA in 2016.
NFC West
San Francisco 49ers
· Santa Clara
Five-time Super Bowl champions, the 49ers built a 1980s-90s dynasty around Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Steve Young.
Plan the Trip
California's marquee road trip. The Rams play at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, a translucent-canopied showpiece in greater Los Angeles, while the 49ers host at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, in the heart of Silicon Valley. The roughly 380-mile run up Interstate 5 links the two, making a home-and-home weekend that pairs Southern California glamour with Bay Area football realistic for a dedicated fan.
Frequently Asked Questions: Rams–49ers
The two teams first met in 1950. The Rams and 49ers have shared the NFC West since the division was created in 1970, making them its two longest-tenured members. Their meetings pit Southern California against the Bay Area in a series stretching back more than seven decades.
Every meeting carries NFC West implications, and recent seasons have raised the temperature: both franchises have reached the Super Bowl in the past decade, and they clashed in the 2021 NFC Championship Game. The matchup splits California's two largest fan markets.
Yes — they meet 2 times in the 2026 NFL season. The game pages, each with a fan-travel guide, are linked on this page.
Los Angeles Rams host at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood; San Francisco 49ers play at their home stadium in Santa Clara.
