MELBOURNE, Australia — September 12, 2026 — The NFL’s international stage delivered a seismic Week 1 shockwave, and Richard Sherman saw it coming from a mile away. As the San Francisco 49ers dismantled the heavily favored Los Angeles Rams 27-7 on Thursday night, the former All-Pro cornerback took a victory lap on his podcast, declaring what the rest of the football world refused to accept: Kyle Shanahan simply has Sean McVay’s number.
“They were in the broadcast talking about ‘undefeated season’ and almost everybody picked them to win this game like it wasn’t gonna be close,” Sherman said, according to insights gathered by Vulius Sports. “And I told people, I don’t know, I don’t have the Rams winning this game because Kyle Shanahan has Sean McVay’s number. And Rams fans said, oh you’re just a hater. Do I look like a hater now? Who looks right? I’m right. Ball knower. I know ball.”
The Rams entered the 2026 season as the league’s presumptive juggernaut, a superteam assembled with championship-or-bust urgency. Even before trading for reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and standout cornerback Trent McDuffie, Los Angeles was the betting favorite to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. The return of future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald was supposed to be the final piece of an impenetrable puzzle. Instead, the Rams looked sluggish, disjointed, and utterly overwhelmed in front of a raucous Melbourne crowd.
McVay Takes Full Responsibility: ‘This Is a Humbling Day’
Rams head coach Sean McVay didn’t mince words after the loss, offering a candid assessment that echoed Sherman’s pregame prediction. “First of all, congratulations to the 49ers. They outplayed us in every facet,” McVay told reporters. “I didn’t do nearly a good enough job. This is a humbling day for us, and this will define us only if we allow it to. And today was one of those days. I always look inside out. I didn’t do a good enough job getting us ready to go.”
While travel logistics and the long flight to Australia may have contributed to the Rams’ lethargy, McVay refused to use them as an excuse. The 49ers, after all, made the same trip and looked crisp on both sides of the ball. Shanahan’s offense methodically carved up a defense featuring Garrett, Donald, and McDuffie, while San Francisco’s own defense — a unit that entered the season with question marks — suffocated Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ high-powered attack.
Shanahan’s Mastery Over McVay Continues
Sherman’s assertion isn’t just hot take fodder; it’s backed by a growing pattern. Shanahan and McVay, former colleagues in Washington, have squared off 12 times since both became head coaches in 2017. Shanahan now holds a decisive 8-4 edge, including four straight regular-season victories. More importantly, the 49ers have won the games that matter most — a 2021 NFC Championship upset at SoFi Stadium and now a statement win on foreign soil.
“Kyle’s scheme is always a step ahead,” Sherman added. “He knows exactly how to attack Sean’s defense. It’s not luck. It’s preparation, it’s film study, and it’s a fundamental understanding of tendencies. When you have that kind of edge, you can beat anybody.”
What This Means for the NFC Landscape
- Rams: A Week 1 loss doesn’t derail a season, but the aura of invincibility has evaporated. Los Angeles must regroup quickly before the NFC West becomes a gauntlet.
- 49ers: The defense answered major questions, and Shanahan’s offense looks as dangerous as ever. San Francisco reasserts itself as a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
- Richard Sherman: The five-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion continues to build a reputation as one of the sharpest analysts in football. His “Ball knower” catchphrase might just stick.
As the NFL season unfolds, one thing is clear: the road to the Super Bowl in the NFC still runs through San Francisco — and Kyle Shanahan. For the Rams, the humbling in Melbourne is a wake-up call. For the 49ers, it’s a reminder that when these two rivals clash, the scoreboard often tilts in favor of the man who knows McVay best.
Reported by the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk. For exclusive merchandise and deeper analysis, visit Vulius.com.
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