Fred Warner twists knife with brutal Rams verdict: ‘Withered away’

A dominant San Francisco team left little doubt about its superiority in Melbourne, dismantling its opponent with relentless pressure early in the contest. The 49ers’ explosive start—including a scoreless quarter where they controlled every possession—set the tone for a one-sided performance. By the final whistle, the defeat was so lopsided that even the losing coach admitted his own side had collapsed under the weight of the opposition’s relentless attack. The game underscored a stark contrast in momentum, with one team gaining confidence while the other seemingly unraveled.

Fred Warner chose a particularly unforgiving verb for what happened to the Rams in Melbourne. “I think it was definitely a matter of us feeling like we got stronger as the game went on,” Warner said after the 49ers’ 27-7 victory. “The opposing team, it felt like they kind of withered away.” For one quarter,...