Heading into last Thursday’s season opener between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in Australia, most sports pundits picked the former as the runaway favorite to win.
After all, the Rams added arguably the most dominant defensive player in the NFL this offseason in edge-rusher Myles Garrett and one of the top cornerbacks in the league in Trent McDuffie.
However, the 49ers shocked the NFL world, dominating the Rams en route to a 27-7 victory and sending a message to the rest of the league that the Rams are, in fact, beatable.
While starting the season 0-1 was a gut punch for the Rams, the 49ers loss stung a little bit more for two of their players who were disciplined by the NFL for their actions during Week 1.
NFL Fines 2 Rams Players — One for a Hit on QB Brock Purdy
The NFL released its list of weekly fines on Saturday, and two Rams players were on it.
Linebacker Nate Landman was fined $11,111 for unnecessary roughness (use of the helmet), and defensive end Tyler Davis, who totaled seven tackles and three run stops, per Pro Football Focus, was fined $6,225 for a hit on a quarterback (blow to the head/neck) for his hit on 49ers QB Brock Purdy in the second quarter.
Purdy picked the Rams defense apart in Melbourne, completing 25 of 34 passes for 205 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception with a 105.6 passer rating. He also rushed five times for 29 yards.
Garrett didn’t have his best performance in Week 1. He played 40 defensive snaps and six special teams snaps and failed to record a pressure or a tackle.
It was later revealed he was playing with a left knee injury that caused him to be placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the next four games. Garrett will miss key contests against the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, and Buffalo Bills.
