Rams’ 2021 schedule: Game-by-game breakdown and predictions

If the Rams’ play feels similar a longer grind this year, it mightiness not beryllium due to the fact that they’re playing 1 much crippled than before. It mightiness beryllium due to the fact that they’re playing arsenic galore games successful the NFC West arsenic ever.

Six games successful an ever-tougher part – with the coagulated Seattle Seahawks, healthier San Francisco 49ers and improving Arizona Cardinals – volition marque it hard for the Rams to gain a home-field playoff way to the Super Bowl astatine SoFi Stadium successful February.

Winning the West apt volition instrumentality astatine slightest 11 victories connected this season’s 17-game schedule. Here’s a week-by-week look astatine however the Rams tin get there:

Sept. 12: Chicago Bears, 5:20 p.m., SoFi Stadium

First regular-season crippled with fans astatine SoFi Stadium. First Rams crippled for backmost Matthew Stafford. Otherwise, conscionable a crippled against the Bears, whom the Rams person stopped the past 2 years. Win. Rams record: 1-0

Sept. 19: astatine Indianapolis Colts, 10 a.m., Lucas Oil Stadium

Beating Carson Wentz with the Colts won’t beryllium arsenic casual arsenic it was for the Rams past twelvemonth erstwhile helium was the Eagles’ quarterback. Especially successful a crippled wedged betwixt the opener and a gathering with the champions. Lose. Rams record: 1-1

Sept. 26: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:25 p.m., SoFi Stadium

The Rams upset the Bucs successful 2020 earlier Tampa Bay deed its stride. Soon aft the TV guys accidental however hard it is to bushed Tom Brady doubly successful a row, the Rams volition marque it 18 times a squad beats Brady doubly successful a row. Win. Rams record: 2-1

Oct. 3: Arizona Cardinals, 1:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium

How overmuch amended are the Cardinals, with J.J. Watt among the additions, and by extension, however overmuch amended is the NFC West? The Rams are 8-0 vs. Arizona nether manager Sean McVay. Win. Rams record: 3-1

Oct. 7: astatine Seattle Seahawks, 5:20 p.m., CenturyLink Field

A Thursday nighttime game. The Rams volition cognize thing astir wherever they basal among contenders aft this five-game opening agelong against teams that went a combined 50-30 successful 2020. Lose. Rams record: 3-2

Oct. 27: astatine New York Giants, 10 a.m., MetLife Stadium

New York ne'er sleeps, but Inglewood did for astir of the Rams’ low-scoring triumph implicit the Giants a twelvemonth ago. The Rams volition request much from the discourtesy against a squad showing signs of improvement. Win. Rams record: 4-2

Oct. 24: Detroit Lions, 1:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium

Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff, traded for each different successful January, vie to spot who says “I don’t play against the opposing quarterback” astir often. As for the game, a nonaccomplishment would beryllium embarrassing for the Rams. Win. Rams record: 5-2

Oct. 31: astatine Houston Texans, 10 a.m., NRG Stadium

Punter Johnny Hekker is the lone subordinate inactive astir from the past sojourn to Houston, a 2013 romp for the then-St. Louis Rams. This ends the softest agelong of the Rams’ schedule. Win. Rams record: 6-2

Nov. 7: Tennessee Titans, 5:20 p.m., SoFi Stadium

The Rams deed the schedule’s midpoint (if a 17-game docket has a midpoint) with a crippled they request heading into a agelong of large NFC games. Good luck holding Derrick Henry to 25 yards, arsenic they did successful 2017. Win. Rams record: 7-2

Nov. 15: astatine San Francisco 49ers, 5:15 p.m., Levi’s Stadium

Las Vegas win-total betting projects the Rams and 49ers adjacent atop the NFC West with 10 1/2 records (ahead of the Seahawks’ 10 and Cardinals’ 8 1/2). So this is simply a large Monday nighttime game. The Niners person won 4 consecutive vs. the Rams. Lose. Rams record: 7-3

Nov. 28: astatine Green Bay Packers, 1:25 p.m., Lambeau Field

After a week disconnected comes different imaginable connection crippled for the Rams, who mislaid to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers with Aaron Donald hurting successful January, and for Stafford, who went 7-13 successful starts against Green Bay erstwhile helium was with the Lions. Win. Rams record: 8-3

Dec. 5: Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:25 p.m., SoFi Stadium

The Rams’ archetypal crippled against manager Urban Meyer and rookie QB Trevor Lawrence won’t beryllium easy. Going into this season, McVay’s teams person mislaid six of their past 8 (and 7 of 8 against the spread) erstwhile facing caput coaches for the archetypal time. Lose. Rams record: 8-4

Dec. 13: astatine Arizona Cardinals, 5:15 p.m., State Farm Stadium

If the NFC West is arsenic beardown arsenic advertised, the Rams’ winning streak against the Cardinals comes to an extremity here. Lose. Rams record: 8-5

Dec. 19: Seattle Seahawks, 1:25 p.m., SoFi Stadium

Pete Carroll’s Seahawks person go the Rams’ apical rivals. This would beryllium the 5th clip successful six years they divided regular-season meetings. Win. Rams record: 9-5

Dec. 26: astatine Minnesota Vikings, 10 a.m., U.S. Bank Stadium

It’s different accidental for Stafford, with much weapons astir him, to get backmost astatine at an hostile that tormented him successful his 12 years successful the NFC North. Not that it’ll beryllium a snap. The Vikings’ defence should improve. Win. Rams record: 10-5

Jan. 2: astatine Baltimore Ravens, 1:25 p.m., M&T Bank Stadium

This is the crippled added to the Rams’ docket erstwhile the NFL expanded to 17 games for this season. McVay volition effort to crook astir his astir one-sided nonaccomplishment – 45-6 to Lamar Jackson and the Ravens successful 2019. Lose. Rams record: 10-6

Jan. 9: San Francisco 49ers, 1:25 p.m., SoFi Stadium

Hollywood – and Inglewood – scriptwriters would person the play travel down to this game. Like the Dodgers with the Giants, the Rams should person to bushed the 49ers to assertion supremacy successful the West. Win. Rams record: 11-6