It goes without saying that for the Rams to unseat the Seahawks for NFC West supremacy, and potentially claim the top seed in the NFC playoffs, they’ll have to earn it.
That’s just the obvious nature of the NFL, where nothing comes easy.
But it’s especially pertinent this year, based on the schedule the NFL is putting them through in 2026.
Let’s just say the Rams got no favors from the league office, which feels determined to showcase one of the NFL’s headliner franchises. It’s certainly a compliment, but it presents navigational challenges for coach Sean McVay and the Rams’ front office.
They play nine teams that reached the playoffs last year, including their season opener against the 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. They will play a minimum of seven prime-time games and are scheduled to play on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and potentially Saturday.
Additionally, they play the Packers on Thanksgiving Eve and travel to Seattle to play the Seahawks on Christmas Day.
Finally, they must wait until Week 11 for their bye week only to face a six-week gauntlet against the Packers, Chiefs, 49ers, Cowboys, Seahawks and Buccaneers.
They close out the regular season at home against the Seahawks.
Whew.
Three Toughest Games
Week 1 vs. 49ers (Melbourne, Australia)
Imagine looking back next January and realizing the top seed in the NFC playoffs came down to a Week 1 matchup that was played on a continent 7,900 miles away from Los Angeles? But that is a distinct possibility when the Rams “host” their bitter NFC West rivals to open the season.
Week 12 vs. Packers (Thanksgiving Eve)
With the NFL debuting its inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game, they rightfully turned to a couple of marquee teams to usher in the new tradition. The Packers offer all sorts of challenges, from formidable quarterback Jordan Love to coach Matt LaFleur, one of the best offensive minds in the game.
Week 16 at Seahawks (Christmas Day)
The Rams were 0-2 on their trips to the Pacific Northwest last year, costing them everything from the top seed in the playoffs to a trip to the Super Bowl. Barring a surprise, the division championship, and maybe the top spot in the playoffs, will be on the line in raucous Lumen Field on Christmas Day.
Three Easiest Games
Week 2 vs. Giants (MNF)
The Rams catch a break on their return from Australia, not just playing a beatable opponent in the Giants but also the extra day off that comes with the stage of “Monday Night Football.” That means 11 days will have passed between their season opener against the 49ers and their home opener against the Giants.
Week 6 vs. Cardinals
The Cardinals feel very much like a team eyeing a top pick in next year’s draft, which offers a tantalizing assortment of quarterback prospects. They aren’t officially tanking, necessarily, but they have done very little to suggest they are sincerely invested in winning this year. The Rams will benefit from that mindset.
Week 7 at Raiders
It would be easy to play rinse and repeat and put the Cardinals here, and for all we know, Fernando Mendoza is the real deal, and the Rams’ first trip to Las Vegas and Allegiant Stadium turns sour. But the Raiders feel like a year or two from turning the corner, so for now, this looks like a winnable game for the Rams.
When’s the Bye?
The Rams have a long wait before getting to their break in Week 11.
But boy, does it come at the perfect time, as they return from the bye to face a gauntlet of a schedule that includes the Packers, Chiefs, 49ers, Cowboys, Seahawks, Buccaneers and Seahawks.
That final stretch will no doubt determine their playoff fate, if not their actual entry into the postseason, certainly their playoff seed.
Overall Takeaway
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more daunting schedule than what the Rams face this year, not just in terms of opponent quality but also in how it plays out. Call it part of the responsibility of being a must-see team in the eyes of the NFL, but the Rams have their hands full navigating a schedule in which they will play on nearly every day of the week, while facing some of the toughest teams in the NFL. The Rams pride themselves on having one of the most innovative and cutting-edge coaching and training staffs in professional sports. All of that expertise will be put to the test this year.
Prediction: 11-6
