Thursday’s game in Australia isn’t just between two NFC West rivals.
It’s a matchup between two absolutely loaded rosters.
San Francisco still has an incredible collection of stars.
Brock Purdy leads an offense featuring Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and potentially George Kittle, with Trent Williams protecting the blind side. Defensively, Nick Bosa is expected to return alongside Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw.
That’s enough talent to compete with almost anybody.
But I’m not sure it’s enough to match what the Rams have built.
Los Angeles already had Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Kyren Williams on an offense that finished No. 1 in scoring and total offense last season.
Then you look at the defense.
Myles Garrett. Aaron Donald. Byron Young. Kobie Turner. Braden Fiske. Trent McDuffie.
That’s ridiculous.
Garrett arrives as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, while Donald surprisingly came out of retirement and rejoined the franchise. Donald’s status for Thursday remains uncertain, but if he’s anywhere close to his old self, Los Angeles could have one of the scariest defensive fronts we’ve seen in years.
San Francisco probably has the advantage at linebacker with Warner and Greenlaw, and I’d take McCaffrey over any individual skill-position player on the Rams.
But when you compare the rosters from top to bottom?
I’m taking Los Angeles.
The Rams have an elite quarterback, arguably the NFL’s best receiver duo and a defense that now features two of the most dominant defensive linemen of this generation.
The 49ers are still loaded.
The Rams just look even more loaded.
