With the release of all 32 NFL teams' schedules, teams like the Los Angeles Rams now know what lies ahead of them for the upcoming 2024 season.
Like most teams, the Rams will return to play on September 8 for their Week 1 game. That game will be a familiar one in more ways than one. To begin with, it will be another matchup between the Rams and the Lions after their trading of each other's quarterbacks back in 2021 of Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford. It will also be a rematch from last year's NFC Wild Card round game — one that the Rams were sent home in — not to mention the first Sunday Night Football game of the season.
That will be just the first of five prime time games the Rams get in 2024. They received just two of those last season. That was likely because the season prior they went just 5-12 and missed the playoffs for only the second time under Sean McVay. Whether that was from a Super Bowl hangover or not, it only lasted but a season as Los Angeles returned to postseason play last year.
This is a team that is now attempting to get younger, yet it will still be led by guys like Stafford, Cooper Kupp, and Puka Nacua. However, Aaron Donald will no longer be there after choosing to retire. Still, that shouldn't stop them from being favorites to make it back to the postseason. But how they have to get there may be tricky.
The Rams face a tough test in December
Last year, the Rams suffered a majority of their losses in the first half of the season. By Week 9, they were 3-6 after losing three straight and lost two of those by double-digits. The bye week was a much-needed reset where they went 7-1 and won their last four to make themselves playoff eligible at 10-7.
This upcoming season, where they'll have the 17th easiest schedule (per Sharp Football Analyst) it may be a lot more difficult to win late in the season, especially in December.
It would be hard to imagine that the Rams would make a start much like they did last year, losing three out of their first four games. But anything can happen in the NFL. However, for their own sake, they had better hope they can distribute wins more evenly or earlier if they want to make it back to the playoffs.
Once the calendar turns to December, the Rams face some of their toughest competition of the season consecutively. While they'll start with the New Orleans Saints, who just missed the playoffs last season, in Week 13, that's when they'll start a month where they're on the road three out of four weeks. Sure, they'll be back at home the next week, but they'll have to face the Buffalo Bills, a playoff team the last five years. But then it's two straight back on the road.
The first is to face last year's NFC Champions, the San Francisco 49ers, on Thursday Night Football on short rest. Those who know this division rivalry know this game typically hasn't gone in the Rams' favor recently. Just last season, the Rams beat the 49ers on the road for the first time since 2018.
Then it's the New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers right before New Year's. That's potentially three to four playoff teams in one month of play. Excluding the trip to Santa Clara to face the 49ers, Week 13 in New Orleans and Week 16 in New York is a combined 4,729 miles worth of travel.
Cue the Counting Crows “Long December.”
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