The NFL will release the full 2026 schedule for the Los Angeles Rams, including their opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia on September 10. Fans should watch for key details such as the bye week and other scheduling factors.
The NFL will pull back the curtain on the full 2026 schedule for the upcoming regular season, including all 17 games for the Los Angeles Rams. We already know when (and where) one of their games will be played, as they'll open the year against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia on Sept. 10, but the other 16 games are still to be determined.
When the schedule is released on Thursday night, there will be some important things to keep an eye on. Here are six things to watch for when the schedule is unveiled.
The bye week is always one of the first things fans and players look at on the schedule. A bye too early in the season isn't ideal, especially if there are no injured players who need extra time to recover. A late bye can cause additional wear and tear throughout the season without a break.
Ideally, the Rams will get a mid-season bye again after having theirs in Week 8 last season. The year before, it was in Week 6, which felt a little bit early but wound up helping the team reset after a 1-4 start.
The Rams only have three potential cold-weather games on their schedule, as they'll go on the road against the Eagles, Commanders and Broncos. If those games are in November or December, there will be a chance for seriously frigid conditions and a possibility for snow.
The good news is the Rams are built to play in the snow with their mauling offensive line and ground-and-pound run game, but mentally, avoiding cold games on the road would be beneficial for them. To play devil's advocate, a game in freezing conditions could prepare the Rams for what might come in the playoffs.
The Los Angeles Rams' 2026 schedule will be released on Thursday night.
The Rams will open their 2026 season against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia on September 10.
The bye week is crucial as it affects player recovery and team performance throughout the season.
Fans should pay attention to the bye week timing, game locations, and matchups against key opponents.

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Thursday night games are not a favorite of any player. However, the plus side of them is the mini-byes that come afterwards. We already know the Rams will have some extra rest ahead of their Week 2 game after facing the 49ers in Australia to open the year, but how many other Thursday Night Football games will they be assigned?
That's something to watch, not only for the short week that precedes it, but the extra rest that follows.
There are a handful of stars who are still recovering from injuries suffered last season, and it'll be worth seeing when Los Angeles faces each of them. The most notable are Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix and George Kittle.
The Rams are obviously facing the 49ers in Week 1, a game Kittle could still be ready for. He tore his Achilles in the playoffs, which typically comes with a lengthy recovery, so that'll be monitored all summer.
Mahomes tore his ACL late in the 2025 season and is trying to be ready for the opener. It would benefit the Rams to play the Chiefs earlier rather than later in the year, even if Mahomes is available for the game; there could be some rust and a lack of chemistry with his weapons.
Kyle Shanahan is not happy about having to travel to Australia for the opener. He even claims to know for a fact that the Rams lobbied to have the 49ers as their Week 1 opponent in Melbourne.
In an attempted act of revenge, Shanahan requested to host the Rams in Mexico City when the Rams play their game there. It's doubtful we'll see an all-international series between the Rams and 49ers this season, but if Shanahan gets his way, that's what it'll be.
In recent years, the Rams have not typically stayed on the road for back-to-back East Coast games, but it's something they've done in the past. And they also stayed out east before their London game last season, shortening the trip to England after playing in Baltimore.
The Rams are scheduled to face the Eagles, Commanders and Bucs on the road, which are all long flights. If the NFL puts the Eagles and Commanders games in back-to-back weeks, it's possible the Rams will stay somewhere nearby instead of flying back and forth.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL schedule release: 6 things to watch for on Rams' 2026 schedule