If the Rams’ season feels like a longer grind this year, it might not be because they’re playing one more game than before. It might be because they’re playing as many games in the NFC West as ever.
Six games in an ever-tougher division – with the solid Seattle Seahawks, healthier San Francisco 49ers and improving Arizona Cardinals – will make it hard for the Rams to earn a home-field playoff path to the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium in February.
Winning the West likely will take at least 11 victories on this season’s 17-game schedule. Here’s a week-by-week look at how the Rams can get there:
Sept. 12: Chicago Bears, 5:20 p.m., SoFi Stadium
First regular-season game with fans at SoFi Stadium. First Rams game for quarterback Matthew Stafford. Otherwise, just a game against the Bears, whom the Rams have stopped the past two years. Win. Rams record: 1-0
Sept. 19: at Indianapolis Colts, 10 a.m., Lucas Oil Stadium
Beating Carson Wentz with the Colts won’t be as easy as it was for the Rams last year when he was the Eagles’ quarterback. Especially in a game wedged between the opener and a meeting with the champions. Lose. Rams record: 1-1
Sept. 26: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:25 p.m., SoFi Stadium
The Rams upset the Bucs in 2020 before Tampa Bay hit its stride. Soon after the TV guys say how hard it is to beat Tom Brady twice in a row, the Rams will make it 18 times a team beats Brady twice in a row. Win. Rams record: 2-1
Oct. 3: Arizona Cardinals, 1:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium
How much better are the Cardinals, with J.J. Watt among the additions, and by extension, how much better is the NFC West? The Rams are 8-0 vs. Arizona under coach Sean McVay. Win. Rams record: 3-1
Oct. 7: at Seattle Seahawks, 5:20 p.m., CenturyLink Field
A Thursday night game. The Rams will know something about where they stand among contenders after this five-game opening stretch against teams that went a combined 50-30 in 2020. Lose. Rams record: 3-2
Oct. 27: at New York Giants, 10 a.m., MetLife Stadium
New York never sleeps, but Inglewood did for most of the Rams’ low-scoring win over the Giants a year ago. The Rams will need more from the offense against a team showing signs of improvement. Win. Rams record: 4-2
Oct. 24: Detroit Lions, 1:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium
Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff, traded for each other in January, compete to see who says “I don’t play against the opposing quarterback” most often. As for the game, a loss would be embarrassing for the Rams. Win. Rams record: 5-2
Oct. 31: at Houston Texans, 10 a.m., NRG Stadium
Punter Johnny Hekker is the only player still around from the last visit to Houston, a 2013 romp for the then-St. Louis Rams. This ends the softest stretch of the Rams’ schedule. Win. Rams record: 6-2
Nov. 7: Tennessee Titans, 5:20 p.m., SoFi Stadium
The Rams hit the schedule’s midpoint (if a 17-game schedule has a midpoint) with a game they need heading into a stretch of big NFC games. Good luck holding Derrick Henry to 25 yards, as they did in 2017. Win. Rams record: 7-2
Nov. 15: at San Francisco 49ers, 5:15 p.m., Levi’s Stadium
Las Vegas win-total betting projects the Rams and 49ers even atop the NFC West with 10 1/2 records (ahead of the Seahawks’ 10 and Cardinals’ 8 1/2). So this is a big Monday night game. The Niners have won four straight vs. the Rams. Lose. Rams record: 7-3
Nov. 28: at Green Bay Packers, 1:25 p.m., Lambeau Field
After a week off comes another potential statement game for the Rams, who lost to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers with Aaron Donald hurting in January, and for Stafford, who went 7-13 in starts against Green Bay when he was with the Lions. Win. Rams record: 8-3
Dec. 5: Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:25 p.m., SoFi Stadium
The Rams’ first game against coach Urban Meyer and rookie QB Trevor Lawrence won’t be easy. Going into this season, McVay’s teams have lost six of their past eight (and seven of eight against the spread) when facing head coaches for the first time. Lose. Rams record: 8-4
Dec. 13: at Arizona Cardinals, 5:15 p.m., State Farm Stadium
If the NFC West is as strong as advertised, the Rams’ winning streak against the Cardinals comes to an end here. Lose. Rams record: 8-5
Dec. 19: Seattle Seahawks, 1:25 p.m., SoFi Stadium
Pete Carroll’s Seahawks have become the Rams’ top rivals. This would be the fifth time in six years they split regular-season meetings. Win. Rams record: 9-5
Dec. 26: at Minnesota Vikings, 10 a.m., U.S. Bank Stadium
It’s another chance for Stafford, with more weapons around him, to get back at at an opponent that tormented him in his 12 years in the NFC North. Not that it’ll be a snap. The Vikings’ defense should improve. Win. Rams record: 10-5
Jan. 2: at Baltimore Ravens, 1:25 p.m., M&T Bank Stadium
This is the game added to the Rams’ schedule when the NFL expanded to 17 games for this season. McVay will try to turn around his most one-sided loss – 45-6 to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in 2019. Lose. Rams record: 10-6
Jan. 9: San Francisco 49ers, 1:25 p.m., SoFi Stadium
Hollywood – and Inglewood – scriptwriters would have the season come down to this game. Like the Dodgers with the Giants, the Rams should have to beat the 49ers to claim supremacy in the West. Win. Rams record: 11-6