The 49ers touched down in Melbourne a full week before kickoff. Over five days they followed a gradual acclimatization plan, moving their bedtime and wake‑time forward each day and tweaking light exposure to match the local clock.

The Rams arrived only about 24 hours before the game. Their last‑minute travel used lie‑flat seats, letting players lie flat and try to sleep on the long flight.

Sleep experts say the body can adjust roughly two time zones per day when travelling west. Because Melbourne is seven zones ahead of Los Angeles, at least four days are needed to fully reset the internal clock.

Both clubs hired sleep specialists and gave players tools such as sleep masks, noise‑cancelling headphones and blue‑light glasses. These devices help control sensory input and light exposure according to each player’s individualized schedule.

Managing jet lag is more than a comfort issue; fatigue can affect performance and raise the risk of clumsiness‑related injuries. The NFL is watching the two approaches closely to see which better protects players.

Whether a week‑long adjustment or a rapid lie‑flat flight works best will become clearer after the Melbourne showdown.