The Los Angeles Rams have begun their lengthy journey to Australia for the NFL season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, traveling in considerable comfort.
The Rams chartered an Airbus A380 for the approximately 15-hour flight, a trip that will span over 15,000 miles. Star linebacker Byron Young shared glimpses of the aircraft's interior on social media, highlighting the spacious, fully reclining seats equipped with blankets in Rams colors, pillows, and personal entertainment screens. "I'm feeling boujee right now," Young commented on his Instagram story, describing the double-decker plane as "so boujee."
Head coach Sean McVay explained the team's strategy for managing the significant time difference and travel. "We'll sleep through the night, and then we'll get there and have kind of a rhythm," McVay said. "They've got full lay-flat beds. All of our players have that." The aim is to maintain the players' normal rhythm and routine to minimize the impact of the journey. The Rams are expected to spend about 30 hours in transit and will return to Los Angeles around midday on Friday, having been away for less than 72 hours.
McVay defended the team's approach, stating that the decision is based on what the organization believes is best, drawing from past experiences. "It doesn't mean that we think we're right and a different approach is wrong," he noted. "It's just what we think is best based on the things that we've done and what we've learned over our time here."
The San Francisco 49ers also chartered a similar aircraft and opted for an earlier departure, leaving the week prior to acclimatize. The Rams, meanwhile, have employed a rapid turnaround strategy, similar to their trip to London last year to play the Jacksonville Jaguars. In that instance, they arrived on Saturday for a Sunday game and returned home promptly, although that journey involved less extensive travel from the East Coast.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford expressed confidence in the team's plan, emphasizing the goal of normalcy. "I feel like we're just keeping it as normal as we possibly can," Stafford said. "Sunday [is] like a Wednesday for us in our world. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, hop on the plane and go."
The Rams and 49ers are scheduled to play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday night in the U.S., which will be Friday morning locally.