{
  "id": 6818984,
  "title": "‘I Don’t Believe That’s Why’ — Sean McVay Defends Rams’ Controversial Travel Plan After Blowout Loss",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/i-dont-believe-thats-why-sean-mcvay-defends-rams-controversial-travel",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-11T23:13:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/don-t-believe-why-sean-231340689.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Los Angeles Rams suffered a significant 27-7 defeat against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, sparking debate over their decision to arrive just one day prior to kickoff. Despite the loss, Rams head coach Sean McVay defended their travel plan, stating he doesn't believe it was the reason for their poor performance. The Niners, however, arrived a week earlier and had ample time to acclimate to the new environment. Both teams acknowledged the impact of travel, with the 49ers benefiting from their rested state and the Rams struggling due to the time-zone change. Sleep experts criticized the Rams' approach, suggesting they needed more preparation time to adjust. Following the blowout loss, McVay remains committed to his coaching decisions, with the Rams returning to their home turf to face the New York Giants in Week 2.",
  "summary": "The Los Angeles Rams got blown out 27-7 by the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, and their decision to arrive in Australia just one day before the game is now facing severe criticism. The Niners, meanwhile, had been in Melbourne for a week before kickoff. However, Sean McVay is not putting the loss on the […] The post ‘I Don’t Believe That’s Why’ — Sean McVay Defends Rams’ Controversial Travel…",
  "key_points": [
    "Sean McVay defends Rams' travel plan, denying it caused loss.",
    "San Francisco 49ers arrived a week early, acclimated better.",
    "Sleep experts criticize Rams' one-day pre-game arrival."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}