49ers, Rams taking opposite approaches to longest road trip in NFL history
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The 49ers have already begun their 16-hour flight to Melbourne, Australia, arriving a week before their game against the Rams to adjust to the time difference.
- The Rams plan to leave much later, reportedly on September 9, landing less than 24 hours before their kickoff on September 10, taking a more last-minute travel approach.
- This strategy follows precedent from the Rams’ previous successful short-notice international trip to London, where they defeated the Jaguars despite arriving just a day before the game.
- The NFL mandates travel plans include buffers to prevent game delays from flight issues, and the Rams’ timing is as close to this limit as possible.
- The league is interested in the outcome of such travel strategies as it evaluates the feasibility of permanent international teams and frequent long-distance road trips without impacting game quality.
