Here are the five biggest takeaways from the Los Angeles Rams' 2026 schedule now that it is officially released.
The NFL has officially released the schedule for the Los Angeles Rams, and it’s a doozy from top to bottom.
The Rams have 17 tough games ahead of them, but their goal remains the same: to be the last team standing at the end of the season.
Los Angeles has a legitimate chance to make that happen, and adding to the motivation is the opportunity to potentially play in SoFi Stadium for Super Bowl LXI, which will be hosted on their home field.
The Rams have a long way to go for that, but the schedule gives us a bit more clarity on how their road to a deep playoff run can happen.
Here are the five biggest takeaways from the Rams schedule release.
1. Seven Primetime Games Shows Massive Expectations
The NFL clearly views the Rams as a premier team in the league. The 2026 Rams hold the record for the most primetime games in the NFL – seven.
That says a lot, including national relevance, lofty expectations, and star power. The NFL holds the Rams in high regard, and given their stacked roster, it comes as no surprise that they are the team with the most primetime games.
The Rams will also start the season with three consecutive primetime games (vs. 49ers, vs. Giants, at Broncos).
2. Seahawks Gauntlet Late in the Year
The two division rivals met three times last season, including an unforgettable NFC Championship Game showdown. Now, as the 2026 season approaches, the division rivals are set to meet twice over the final three weeks of the regular season.
Last season, the Rams and Seahawks played their annual division matchups in mid-November and mid-December. This season, however, the rivalry will take center stage late in the year, with one matchup scheduled for late December and the other coming in early January to close out the 2026 regular season.
Both teams have firmly established themselves among the NFL's elite. Seattle proved that last season throughout their stellar 2025 campaign and Super Bowl title, while the Rams head into 2026 with arguably one of the deepest rosters in the league with hopes of capturing another Lombardi Trophy.
3. Brutal Opening Stretch With Playoff Teams
The Rams may be a juggernaut heading into the 2026 season; however, they will still have some major challenges to overcome. They won’t have to look any further for that, as four of their first five matchups feature playoff teams from 2025.
Those four matchups include Week 1 vs 49ers, Week 3 vs Broncos, Week 4 against the Eagles, and Week 5 against the Bills. Those four teams won a total of 49 games between them.
The Rams will have their hands full from the jump.
4. Bye Week Comes at the Perfect Time
The Rams' bye week comes in Week 11, and it couldn’t be at a more perfect time. After a division game, taking on multiple playoff contenders, cross-country travel, and a physical and demanding first half of the season, the Rams get much-needed rest.
On top of that, it comes right before the Rams host the Green Bay Packers for the NFL's first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game in Week 12.
The bye lands right before another gauntlet that is the back half of the schedule, which will be massive for the veterans on the team and their overall health.
5. Rams Must Capitalize on Softer Midseason Window
Weeks 6-10 are easily considered the Rams' "soft" spot of the schedule. That part of the schedule includes the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, and the Cardinals again in that order.
Only one of those teams made the playoffs last season, the Chargers.
With the first five weeks being tough, the Rams could use this part of the schedule to capitalize on stacking up wins.