49ers, Ravens, and Jaguars will test Rams ahead of scheduled bye week
We’re diving deep into the Los Angeles Rams’ schedule. Taking it piece-by-piece and breaking into natural segments based on strength of opposition and key matchups.
Weeks 1-4, The Opening Quarter: Texans, Titans, Eagles, Colts
Weeks 5-8, Litmus Test Before the Bye: 49ers, Ravens, Jaguars
Weeks 9-13, Clash Against the NFC South: Saints, 49ers, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Panthers
Weeks 14-18, A Potentially Tough Close: Cardinals, Lions, Seahawks, Falcons, Cardinals
Next up are weeks five through eight of the regular season, which will bring a tough test heading into the bye:
Litmus Test Before the Bye
There will be tougher matchups on the Rams’ calendar than the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts, both of whom LA will see in their first four games. Still, the Rams cannot afford to enter a tough stretch against three playoff hopefuls at worse than 2-2.
Los Angeles has started slow each of the past two seasons. With the way the schedule falls in 2025, they will not be afforded that luxury this year.
On an optimistic note—if LA does emerge from The Opening Quarter at 3-1 or better—they can cement their status as a top contender by winning at least two of the next three. Should that happen, we could be discussing the potential of the top seed in the NFC conference and the team hosting playoff games at SoFi Stadium.
But in a glass half empty view—should LA once again start slow—dropping multiple of three games against the 49ers, Ravens, and Jaguars could prove insurmountable over the second half of the year.
Week 5 vs San Francisco 49ers; Thursday, Oct 2nd
I’m personally not too bullish on San Francisco’s prospects this upcoming season. Their star core is aging and oft-injured, and despite taking the team to a Super Bowl the jury is still largely out on whether Brock Purdy can elevate a lesser supporting cast.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
The 49ers are never an easy out. That’ll be true again in 2025, especially as defensive coordinator Robert Saleh returns and attempts to regain a lost sense of physicality.
The Rams bucked a historic trend by taking down the 49ers twice last season. This is still a division rival that’s had LA’s number since Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan joined the NFC West in 2017.
Week 6 at Baltimore Ravens; Sunday, Oct 12th
Matchups against the Ravens haven’t been kind to the Rams in recent years.
Back in 2019 following the acquisition of Jalen Ramsey and trading Marcus Peters to Baltimore amidst a playoff push, Lamar Jackson scored five TD’s in a 45-6 rout of LA.
In Matthew Stafford’s first season in Los Angeles, the Rams edged out the Ravens 20-19 on their way to winning Super Bowl LVI. Jackson did not play in this game and Tyler Huntley was under center instead.
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
The latest contest came during the 2023 season and ended in overtime with a game-winning TD by Ravens punt returner Tylan Wallace. It was a back and forth effort where Stafford and Jackson combined for six TD’s. Former Ram Odell Beckham, Jr. got in on the action with nearly 100 yards and a score.
In short, this game is certain to be electric. Jackson has accumulated major statistics and two wins against the Rams when healthy—although nothing compared to Saquon Barkley’s two efforts against LA year year. This will be must-see TV.
At best it’s a 50-50 proposition that the Rams leave Baltimore with a win.
Week 7 at Jacksonville Jaguars (London); Sunday, Oct 19th
Count out the Jaguars at your own peril.
Liam Coen comes to Jacksonville to get the best out of former number one overall pick Trevor Lawrence. This will also be LA’s first look at this year’s second overall pick and two-way WR/CB Travis Hunter.
But that doesn’t even touch on all the talent the Jaguars have accumulated. Brian Thomas, Jr. seems to be one of the brightest young names at the receiver position across all the NFL. The defense is littered with premium draft choices headlined by a formidable pass rushing duo in Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker.
Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s possible that my optimism surrounding Jacksonville is year too early. Still, former Ram James Gladstone is pulling the right strings as general manager and has the team on an ascending path. He’s leading with boldness, something clearly gleamed from his time under Les Snead.
The Jaguars’ turnaround is purely predicated on their ability to help Lawrence reach new heights. He’s as physically talented as any quarterback in the NFL and that could easily prove challenging in an already tough stretch of the Rams’ schedule.
Week 8: BYE
A bye week squarely in the middle of the season is what you hope for ahead of the schedule release. It’s not too early and it’s far from too late.
It’ll be worth monitoring Alaric Jackson’s health to start the season. Should he miss time early, the bye week could be an ideal point to bring him back into the fold.
We should also keep an eye on young players who might be due for a larger role over the second half of the year, such as second round rookie TE Terrance Ferguson breaking into the starting lineup or increased workloads for running backs Blake Corum and Jarquez Hunter behind Kyren Williams.