Rams Schedule Release: New Year's Eve NYC Highlights Rough Road
While we are still several months away from the start of the NFL season we now know the schedule for the Los Angeles Rams. Yes, the opponents and locations were already known, but now the dates have been revealed as well.
The Rams are entering the 2023 season hoping that they can show last year was a one-off instead of a trend. Going 5-12 is, of course, always a disappointing record but it was magnified further for the Rams as they were the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Getting off the mat and back into contention will be much easier said than done, especially in an NFC West that saw both the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks make the playoffs last season. Making matters worse, the Rams do not have an easy schedule by any means.
Between now and the start of the season there will undoubtedly be plenty of analysis of schedules across the NFL, with different teams being labeled Super Bowl favorites while others are considered contenders for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft.
For now, though, we will take an in-depth look at the Rams' schedule and highlight five key takeaways - from rough stretches to games that could be must-watch television.
Brutal three-game opening slate
You can never fully judge how good a team will look based on solely the first three games of the season, but the first three games for the Rams will tell us a lot about how competitive they can be this season. They open on the road against the Seahawks in Week 1, host the 49ers in Week 2 before traveling to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3.
Not only were all three of those teams playoff teams last year, but the 49ers and Bengals made their respective conference championship games. No, neither team made the Super Bowl, but they are still poised to be threats to go on yet another deep playoff run. Coming out of this stretch of games at 1-2 or 2-1 is a good outcome for the Rams, and one that would inspire confidence for the rest of the season.
Favorable Weeks 5-7 matchups
The Rams have eight home games to nine road games this season, with three of those home games coming in a three-game home stand from Weeks 5-7. They kick off that home-stand with a tough matchup, welcoming the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles to town in a game that could be an early season playoff preview.
Following that, though, they have two games against teams that failed to make the playoffs last year in the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers. Arizona will be without quarterback Kyler Murray for most of the season as he recovers from his ACL tear while the Steelers look to get back to the playoffs - much like the Rams. This three-game stretch is a perfect opportunity for Los Angeles to get some momentum rolling into the middle of the season.
Week 10 bye
When your bye week falls in the schedule can play a big factor in how your season goes. No, the date of your bye week is not the sole factor to determine how well the Rams fare, but it does have some impact.
Having a Week 10 bye means that it comes just over halfway through the season for the Rams, which is ideal. At that point in the season the team will be incredibly banged up and a bye week then gives them the perfect opportunity to rest and heal up for the back half of the schedule with some marquee games.
Big Apple for New Year's Eve
Ending 2023 on a high note is in the cards for the Rams as they will hit the road to take on the New York Giants on New Year's Eve, another game against a playoff team from last year. However, if the Rams truly are contenders in the NFC once again, this is a game that could have major postseason implications.
There is no way of knowing what those implications are this far out, of course. That being said, they could be anywhere from one of the teams fighting to win their division to the battle for the final spot in the NFC playoff picture. Either way, the Rams will want to end their year with a bang.
Road back to contention is bumpy
The gauntlet is officially set for the Rams as they look to shake off the stench of going 5-12 and get back into the playoffs once again. If everyone can stay healthy then that is a possibility, but even then it will be far from easy as they have a rather difficult schedule.
Nine of their 17 games are against teams that made the playoffs last season, including four against divisional foes in the 49ers and Seahawks. If the Rams want to prove last year was a fluke and they're still legit then they have the perfect schedule to prove all the doubters wrong.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
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