LOS ANGELES — The schedule release is one of the most exciting days for NFL fans. The chance to discover when their favorite teams’ rivals come to town or other exciting matchups is all revealed.
For the Los Angeles Rams fan base, they see a schedule where they will be underdogs in most of their matchups. After a 5-12 record last season and the release of multiple starters, expectations are low for the Rams. However, every team begins its season undefeated, and the Rams will carry an underdog mentality with them as they hope to return to the playoffs.
Multiple Rams whose seasons were cut short last season should also return, including the likes of quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, and defensive lineman Aaron Donald, giving Rams fans some hope for a successful season.
The following is a brief overview of the Rams’ schedule and their opponents.
All projected lines are from DraftKings Sportsbook; against the spread records are from StatMuse from the 1979 season to now.
WEEK: 1
OPPONENT: Seattle Seahawks
DATE: Sept. 10
AT: Seattle
PROJECTED LINE: Seahawks -5.5
SERIES HISTORY: 24-27
VS SPREAD: 27-22-1
LAST MEETING: Jan. 8, 2023 — Seahawks 19-16 (OT), at Seattle
QUICK THOUGHTS: The Rams open the season against one of their division rivals, the Seahawks. This game will allow them to display their toughness as expectedly heavy underdogs. However, the crowd at Lumen Field is almost always loud, so this could be a challenging game for the Rams.
WEEK: 2
OPPONENT: San Francisco 49ers
DATE: Sept. 17
AT: Inglewood, California
PROJECTED LINE: 49ers -3
SERIES HISTORY: 68-77-3
VS SPREAD: 31-53-4
LAST MEETING: Oct. 30, 2022 — 49ers 31-14, at Inglewood, California
QUICK THOUGHTS: Back-to-back games against division rivals are not a favorable way to begin. The 49ers lost the NFC Championship last season and will be hungry to regain momentum early in the season. However, this will be the Rams’ home opener, so they will look to win in front of their home crowd.
WEEK: 3
OPPONENT: Cincinnati Bengals
DATE: Sept. 24
AT: Cincinnati
PROJECTED LINE: Bengals -7
SERIES HISTORY: 7-8
VS SPREAD: 6-5-1
LAST MEETING: Feb. 13, 2022 — Rams 23-20, at N/A (Super Bowl in Inglewood, California)
QUICK THOUGHTS: This is the first time the Rams will play the Bengals since beating them in Super Bowl LVI. However, the Rams roster appears much weaker than it was then, while the Bengals are still widely considered Super Bowl contenders. Not an easy one in Week 3.
WEEK: 4
OPPONENT: Indianapolis Colts
DATE: Oct. 1
AT: Indianapolis, Indiana
PROJECTED LINE: Rams -1
SERIES HISTORY: 21-23-2
VS SPREAD: 5-3-1
LAST MEETING: Sept. 19, 2021 — Rams 27-24, at Indianapolis Indiana
QUICK THOUGHTS: Finally, a less demanding game and a significant opportunity for the Rams to win. After three expectedly tough games, the Colts pose less of a challenge for them, as they finished 4-12-1 last season.
WEEK: 5
OPPONENT: Philadelphia Eagles
DATE: Oct. 8
AT: Inglewood, California
PROJECTED LINE: Eagles -4.5
SERIES HISTORY: 20-22-1
VS SPREAD: 4-15-1
LAST MEETING: Sept. 20, 2020 — Rams 37-19, at Philadelphia
QUICK THOUGHTS: The Rams trashed an Eagles team that finished 4-11-1 in 2020 while they went to the NFC Divisional Round. Now, the roles are flipped, as the Eagles won 14 games and made it to the Super Bowl last season, while the Rams finished last in their division. The Eagles have retained much of their talent and are expected to be Super Bowl contenders again. A challenging game for the Rams.
WEEK: 6
OPPONENT: Arizona Cardinals
DATE: Oct. 15
AT: Inglewood, California
PROJECTED LINE: Rams -4
SERIES HISTORY: 48-40-2
VS SPREAD: 29-27-1
LAST MEETING: Nov. 13, 2022 — Cardinals 27-17, at Inglewood, California
QUICK THOUGHTS: This is the Rams’ first meeting against the last division rival they have yet to play. However, this game is expected to pose less of a challenge as the Cardinals finished one game worse than the Rams last year. At home, the Rams have a solid chance to claim victory.
WEEK: 7
OPPONENT: Pittsburgh Steelers
DATE: Oct. 22
AT: Inglewood, California
PROJECTED LINE: Steelers -1
SERIES HISTORY: 15-10-2
VS SPREAD: 2-9
LAST MEETING: Nov. 10, 2019 — Steelers 17-12, at Pittsburgh
QUICK THOUGHTS: A seemingly even game for the Rams at home following a similar matchup in Week 6. This is another chance for them to win as they enter the middle of the season.
WEEK: 8
OPPONENT: Dallas Cowboys
DATE: Oct. 29
AT: Arlington, Texas
PROJECTED LINE: Cowboys -6
SERIES HISTORY: 18-19
VS SPREAD: 11-4
LAST MEETING: Oct. 9, 2022 — Cowboys 22-10, at Inglewood, California
QUICK THOUGHTS: The Cowboys won 12 games last season before falling to the 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round. On the road, this could be a difficult game for the Rams.
WEEK: 9
OPPONENT: Green Bay Packers
DATE: Nov. 5
AT: Green Bay, Wisconsin
PROJECTED LINE: Packers -1.5
SERIES HISTORY: 47-49-2
VS SPREAD: 10-18-1
LAST MEETING: Dec. 19, 2022 — Packers 24-12, at Green Bay, Wisconsin
QUICK THOUGHTS: The Rams head to Lambeau Field. However, luckily for them, the weather may not be a significant factor as this game is in November. The Packers traded away quarterback Aaron Rodgers, signaling a potential rebuild, so the Rams could win this one before their bye week.
WEEK: 10
OPPONENT: N/A (BYE)
WEEK: 11
OPPONENT: Seattle Seahawks
DATE: Nov. 19
AT: Inglewood, California
PROJECTED LINE: Seahawks -1.5
SERIES HISTORY: 24-27
VS SPREAD: 27-22-1
LAST MEETING: Jan. 8, 2023 — Seahawks 19-16 (OT), at Seattle
QUICK THOUGHTS: After the Rams’ bye week, they play their division rivals for the second and final time of the year. With extra time to prepare, the Rams could have the upper hand against the Seahawks, whose bye week is far in the rearview mirror at this point.
WEEK: 12
OPPONENT: Arizona Cardinals
DATE: Nov. 26
AT: Glendale, Arizona
PROJECTED LINE: Rams -2
SERIES HISTORY: 48-40-2
VS SPREAD: 29-27-1
LAST MEETING: Nov. 13, 2022 — Cardinals 27-17, at Inglewood, California
QUICK THOUGHTS: After playing one division rival, the Rams get another. However, this matchup against the Cardinals is a little more tricky than the first one, as the Rams will be on the road. Still, the Rams are expected to be favorites because of the Cardinals’ lack of success last season.
WEEK: 13
OPPONENT: Cleveland Browns
DATE: Dec. 3
AT: Inglewood, California
PROJECTED LINE: Browns -1
SERIES HISTORY: 13-11
VS SPREAD: 7-4
LAST MEETING: Sept. 22, 2019 — Rams 20-13, at Cleveland
QUICK THOUGHTS: The Rams have not played the Browns since they beat them in 2019. After a two-game stretch against division rivals, this game holds less weight. However, it could significantly influence the outcome of their season as they near the home stretch.
WEEK: 14
OPPONENT: Baltimore Ravens
DATE: Dec. 10
AT: Baltimore
PROJECTED LINE: Ravens -5
SERIES HISTORY: 3-5
VS SPREAD: 2-4-2
LAST MEETING: Jan. 2, 2022, Rams 20-19, at Baltimore
QUICK THOUGHTS: This game will be the Rams’ consecutive week on the road, and it will be against a Ravens team that finished 10-7 last season. This is a tough break for them; they are expected to be heavy underdogs.
WEEK: 15
OPPONENT: Washington Commanders
DATE: Dec. 17
AT: Inglewood, California
PROJECTED LINE: Rams -1
SERIES HISTORY: 14-26-1
VS SPREAD: 10-14
LAST MEETING: Oct. 11, 2020 — at Landover, Maryland
QUICK THOUGHTS: After a challenging game, the Rams will play an expectedly easier one at home. Second-year quarterback Sam Howell is expected to be the Commanders’ quarterback, and the Rams can look to take advantage of his experience in this matchup.
WEEK: 16
OPPONENT: New Orleans Saints
DATE: Dec. 21
AT: Inglewood, California
PROJECTED LINE: Rams -1
SERIES HISTORY: 43-35
VS SPREAD: 27-26-3
LAST MEETING: Nov. 20, 2022 — Saints 27-20, at New Orleans
QUICK THOUGHTS: Another solid opportunity for the Rams to win comes their second straight week at home. However, the Saints recently added quarterback Derek Carr and wide receiver Michael Thomas could be healthy, making this an intriguing matchup down the stretch.
WEEK: 17
OPPONENT: New York Giants
DATE: Dec. 31
AT: East Rutherford, New Jersey
PROJECTED LINE: Giants -3
SERIES HISTORY: 29-17
VS SPREAD: 15-14
LAST MEETING: Oct. 17, 2021 — Rams 38-11, East Rutherford, New Jersey
QUICK THOUGHTS: The Giants received a Wild Card bid into the playoffs after finishing third in their division last year. With head coach Brian Daboll commanding the Giants’ offense in his second year with the team, the Rams’ defense gets a test, with the regular season coming to a close.
WEEK: 18
OPPONENT: San Francisco 49ers
DATE: Jan. 7
AT: Inglewood, California
PROJECTED LINE: 49ers -6
SERIES HISTORY: 68-77-3
VS SPREAD: 31-53-4
LAST MEETING: Oct, 30, 2022 — 49ers 31-14, at Inglewood, California
QUICK THOUGHTS: The Rams’ final game of the season could have significant implications. If they are in the playoff hunt, this game against their division rivals could make or break their season. The last time these two teams faced off in the final week of the season, the 49ers won in overtime to regain a playoff spot from the Saints. It could be an exciting matchup or a snooze if neither team could benefit from this game.
