San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was initially unhappy when the NFL scheduled the team's Week 1 game against the Los Angeles Rams in Australia. He had complained about the travel and the loss of a home game in Los Angeles.
After arriving in Australia and preparing for the game, Shanahan said his view has softened. "When I said that, that was nothing against Australia or anything," he said on Sunday. "That's just about competition and how important our 17 games are. It's cool for us, just we always have an advantage of having one, I see it as one home game a year in L.A. Just the way our fans are and take over that stadium."
The 49ers typically get an extra home game when they play at SoFi Stadium, because their fans travel well and often outnumber Rams supporters. This season, San Francisco has eight home games and nine road contests, with the Australia game counting as a road game. They will not have an extra appearance at SoFi, though they do face the Los Angeles Chargers there in December.
Shanahan acknowledged the disappointment but expects the 49ers fanbase to make their presence felt in Australia. "It was disappointing to let them off the hook and get them out of that," he continued. "But, I have a feeling knowing how our fans roll, I have a feeling they won't be much different here. I expect to have a good showing. I wouldn't say it hit me right on the plane, but after being here for a couple of days, this is the right time to be here, it's the right place to be, and it's the right team to go against."
Week 1 is the most ideal slot for an international game, as teams can prepare beforehand rather than adjusting midseason. The Rams are taking a unique approach, preparing as if it were an in-season game with their travel schedule. Shanahan is glad the 49ers went with their own approach. "Not comparing us to them, but yeah I was glad. I know how I felt the last couple, two days. It's a little different for a coach, toughing through how you use your mind for three-and-a-half hours, a little bit different than your body. But yeah, I'm glad that we've been out here because we feel real good today."
San Francisco and Los Angeles kick off on Friday morning local time. The game will be aired on Netflix at 5:35 p.m. Pacific time on Thursday evening.
Source: Niners Nation — Read the original article
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