Mick Cronin uses poker analogy to describe NIL era: ‘In the middle of the game, they changed the game’
Mick Cronin uses poker analogy to explain NIL impact on UCLA
The Los Angeles Rams face a challenging 2026 schedule, opening against the 49ers in Melbourne and closing with two games against the Seahawks. Their season includes a tough stretch of playoff-caliber opponents late in the year.
The Rams land a semi-late, perfectly reasonable bye week in the middle of the season. No complaints there.
The Rams and Seahawks played arguably the game of the year in 2025, an overtime thriller won by Seattle on a two-point conversion. The NFL clearly believes the rivalry is appointment viewing because it scheduled Rams-Seahawks twice in the final three weeks instead of settling for a weaker late-season primetime matchup. Do the Rams benefit from seeing Seattle twice in such a short span, or is the NFL setting up a brutal finish for Sean McVay’s team?
The Rams play the 49ers, Giants, Broncos, Eagles, Bills, Cardinals, Raiders, Chargers, Commanders, Packers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Seahawks, and Buccaneers in the 2026 season.
The Rams' 2026 schedule is considered one of the toughest in the NFL, particularly due to high-stakes matchups against playoff-caliber teams late in the season.
The Rams have their bye week in Week 11 of the 2026 season.
Key matchups for the Rams include games against the 49ers, Seahawks, Chiefs, and Cowboys, particularly the two games against the Seahawks in the final three weeks.
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We’ve known for months that the Rams would open the season against the 49ers in Australia, but that doesn’t make the travel any less challenging. At least the Rams return to face the Giants in Week 2 with extra rest, which could help offset some of the disadvantage from opening internationally.
Two weeks after the opener against San Francisco, the Rams travel to Denver to face the Broncos in Week 3, then fly across the country to Philadelphia before returning home to host Josh Allen and the Bills. With four primetime games in the first five weeks, do the Rams have the toughest early-season schedule in the NFL?
The Rams finish the year against a gauntlet of playoff-caliber opponents: the Seahawks twice, plus the 49ers, Packers, Chiefs, Buccaneers, and Cowboys. That stretch reinforces how important it will be for Sean McVay to avoid the slow starts that have plagued the Rams in previous seasons. L.A. can’t afford to enter Thanksgiving with a 5-5 record — or worse — and expect to survive this closing stretch.
Week 1 – “vs” 49ers, Melbourne, 9/10 Week 2 – vs Giants, MNF, 9/21 Week 3 – at Broncos, SNF, 9/27 Week 4 – at Eagles, 10/4 Week 5 – vs Bills, MNF, 10/12 Week 6 – vs Cardinals, 10/18 Week 7 – at Raiders, 10/25 Week 8 – vs Chargers, 11/1 Week 9 – at Commanders, 11/8 Week 10 – at Cardinals, 11/15 Week 11 – BYE Week 12 – vs Packers, Thanksgiving Eve, 11/25 Week 13 – vs Chiefs, TNF, 12/3 Week 14 – at 49ers, 12/13 Week 15 – vs Cowboys, 12/20 Week 16 – at Seahawks, 12/25 Week 17 – vs Bucs, 1/2 or 1/3 Week 18 – vs Seahawks, 1/9 or 1/10