Rams schedule thoughts: Clash Against the NFC South

Rams schedule thoughts: Clash Against the NFC South
Turf Show Times Turf Show Times

Rams schedule: Weeks 9-13 bring the Saints, 49ers, Seahawks, Buccaneers, and Panthers

We’ve done a deep dive through the first half of the Los Angeles Rams’ schedule through their bye week. Now comes the back stretch and a focus on three-fourths of the NFC South division.

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


Clash against the NFC South

Weeks nine through thirteen brings three of four NFC South teams and two of three NFC West division rivals for the Rams. This will be an important stretch to (1) round out the head-to-head matchups with the 49ers, (2) hold the competitive line within the division, and (3) measure against middling but improving teams in the South.

Week 9 vs New Orleans Saints; Sunday, Nov 2nd

The NFL is a league of parity and we see unexpected teams make the jump into contention on an annual basis. With that said, this Saints team seems on its path to obtaining a very high pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

Rookie second rounder Tyler Shough figures to be the starter for New Orleans, though Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener may either win the camp battle or earn spot starts.

There is talent on this roster and a chance new head coach Kellen Moore can maximize what they have to work with. Still, given the Saints’ credit card type approach in terms of pushing salary cap spend into future years, this team is in need of a reset. That probably puts them multiple years away from a true turnaround with long-term potential.

The bottom line is this should be one of the closest certainties to a win the Rams will get all season.

Week 10 at San Francisco 49ers; Sunday, Nov 9th

It feels odd to finish both games against San Francisco by Week 10. This could be a chance for the Rams to put the division race out of arms reach should the 49ers continue on a downward trajectory.

It’s not unreasonable to think the 49ers fell apart last season because of a bad run of injury luck and that 2025 is bound to be a bounce back year. I think there are still foundational questions surrounding San Francisco’s roster and whether they have the same level of talent that took them to multiple Super Bowls.

Week 11 vs Seattle Seahawks; Sunday, Nov 16th

This will be the Rams’ first matchup of the season against the Seahawks. They’ll also travel to Seattle in Week 16.

Los Angeles battered Sam Darnold in two games against the Minnesota Vikings last year, and now they’ll see him in green and blue. Darnold was on his way to a massive pay day before the Rams exposed him in the wildcard round of the playoffs....