Sorting the eight games left for the Rams by difficulty
The odds are against the Los Angeles Rams making the playoffs this season after starting 3-6. Crazier things have happened in the NFL, but in all likelihood, the Rams are going to miss the postseason for the second straight year.
There are reasons for hope in the second half, though. They get to face struggling teams such as the Giants and Cardinals, as well as the Commanders, who parted with their two best defenders at the trade deadline.
They also have to go up against the 49ers, Ravens and Browns, all of which boast great defenses. Looking ahead to the Rams’ upcoming schedule after the bye, we ranked every game from easiest to toughest.
Week 17 at Giants
This game may not mean much by the time Week 17 rolls around. In fact, it could be a game to decide the top five picks in the 2024 draft, which means the Rams might be better off losing than winning.
If they can’t beat the Daniel Jones-less Giants, though, it’ll be borderline embarrassing. They’re arguably the worst team in the league and may not have Jones or Tyrod Taylor in this one.
Week 12 at Cardinals
The Rams took care of the Cardinals in their first meeting, but the second matchup will undoubtedly be more challenging. Kyler Murray is back and will presumably get the start in Week 12 when the Rams visit Arizona.
The Cards are still one of the weaker teams in football, but Murray makes this game more interesting. Still, it’s one the Rams should win, even on the road.
Week 15 vs. Commanders
The Commanders sold off their promising defensive line at the deadline, trading away Chase Young and Montez Sweat. On offense, Sam Howell is a gunslinger who isn’t afraid to throw it deep, and the Commanders do still have Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Logan Thomas as pass catchers.
It helps that this game will be at home instead of on the road across the country, and it’s another game the Rams should win as long as Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald are healthy.
Week 16 vs. Saints
The Derek Carr experiment in New Orleans hasn’t worked out as well as the front office hoped, causing the offense to go somewhat flat despite having Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Michael Thomas.
Beating the Saints won’t be easy, even at home, but it’s on the easier end of the toughness spectrum as it relates to the Rams’ remaining schedule.
Week 11 vs. Seahawks
The Rams steamrolled the Seahawks in Week 1, beating them on the road, 30-13. That’s probably not going to happen again in Week 11 when they have their rematch, but Los Angeles does get the benefit of coming out of the bye.
Unfortunately, the Rams still won’t have Kyren Williams back, though Matthew Stafford should be healthy enough to play after missing six quarters against the Cowboys and Packers.
Week 13 vs. Browns
The Browns might boast the best defense in the NFL, and if they’re not first, they’re a close second behind another team on this list: the Ravens. The offense has been atrocious with Deshaun Watson under center, and Nick Chubb is out for the year. However, the Browns are a physical team that the Rams will struggle to move the ball against.
Fortunately, this one is at home and the Rams won’t have to play in potentially cold conditions in Cleveland.
Week 18 at 49ers
You might be surprised to see a game ranked as a tougher matchup for the Rams than the finale against the 49ers, but things have changed since the start of the season. The 49ers have lost three straight to the Browns, Vikings and Bengals, and Brock Purdy has looked pedestrian as of late.
This isn’t to say the Rams will beat San Francisco on the road in Week 18 — a game that could be massive for the 49ers’ playoff positioning. It’s unlikely Los Angeles will win that game. However, there has to be at least some hope of that happening after the Rams played them close in Week 2, and given San Francisco’s recent struggles.
Week 14 at Ravens
In Week 14, the Rams will be on the road against the Ravens with an early 1 p.m. ET kickoff. The conditions could be cold and potentially snowy, and the Ravens are a team built to play in tricky weather.
They’ve allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL, the second-fewest yards per game, and they lead the league in rushing. Lamar Jackson is playing like an MVP and the defense is going to give the Rams’ offensive line a lot of trouble. Baltimore might be the best team in the league and it’s going to be incredibly difficult for the Rams to win this one on the road.