The Los Angeles Rams schedule for the 2021 NFL season is out and the road to Super Bowl LVI begins at SoFi Stadium. Following an offseason with significant overhaul, the Rams figure to look quite a bit different this fall as they looked to rebound from a disappointing finish.
Expectations are high following the blockbuster Matthew Stafford trade. With the upgrade at quarterback, even with key losses on the defensive side, many in Los Angeles are counting on the Rams to make a deep playoff run this season and believe a Super Bowl run could be in the cards.
With that in mind, let’s dive into our Rams’ season predictions based on their 2021 schedule.
Week 1 – vs. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears intend to start Andy Dalton to open the 2021 season, which should tell you everything you need to know about this matchup. Los Angeles will blitz Dalton and have zero issues creating pressure against Chicago’s below-average line. Plus, with the Bears’ secondary taking a step back, Stafford should have a strong debut.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 27, Bears 17
Week 2 – @ Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis shored up its issue at left tackle by signing Eric Fisher, but he won’t be ready when these two teams meet. Expect the Rams to use a lot of outside pressure to get into Carson Wentz‘s head, forcing him to make some bad decisions. It will be another strong defensive effort leading the charge, with Stafford making some clutch throws to put the game away.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 23, Colts 17
Week 3 – vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay is bringing back all 22 of its starters and will have even more continuity than it did last season. Meanwhile, the Rams will still be just a few months into memorizing Raheem Morris’s scheme and Stafford will be working on his timing with Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. The margin for error is tiny against the Bucs and this early-season battle likely goes in Tampa Bay’s favor.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Buccaneers 31, Rams 23
Week 4 – vs. Arizona Cardinals
The NFC West is stacked, but the Cardinals and Rams are arguably the top two teams in the division. Arizona’s firepower on offense is off the charts and the pairing of J.J. Watt with Chandler Jones should make an outstanding pass rush. But there are still legitimate worries regarding Arizona’s secondary and Stafford will exploit them at home for a victory.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 34, Cardinals 31
Week 5 – @ Seattle Seahawks
Playing at Lumen Field, formerly known as CenturyLink Field, wasn’t much of a challenge in 2020 with fans kept away. With the fans returning, the Seahawks will return to having one of the best home-field advantages in professional sports. Pair that with Russell Wilson trying to prove something in 2021 and Seattle sneaks away with a victory.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Seahawks 17, Rams 13
Week 6 – @ New York Giants
Daniel Jones doesn’t make great decisions with the football and that issue is magnified even more when under pressure. That’s a bit of an issue for the New York Giants in a matchup against Aaron Donald. Los Angeles will lock up the Giants’ receivers, get home with pressure and probably get a defensive touchdown.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 28, Giants 16
Week 7 – vs. Detroit Lions
Jared Goff will see this matchup as an opportunity for revenge. Sean McVay will personally fire up the Rams’ defense before the game. Even without the speech, Los Angeles dominates this game. With McVay encouraging his defense to prove a point, it won’t be pretty for Goff.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 35, Lions 10
Week 8 – @ Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are going to be a historically bad team. The worst offense in the NFL is a lock to commit multiple turnovers, with the Rams’ defensive playmaking raising the possibility of a pick-six. Pair that with Houston’s secondary and pass rush, which basically don’t exist, it all results in a memorable blowout.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 42, Texans 3
Week 9 – vs. Tennessee Titans
Los Angeles needs to contain Derrick Henry, a task that is far easier said than done. Fortunately, the Rams hold the advantage in the trenches and they have an offense capable of keeping the football away from the Titans. This will be an entertaining Sunday Night Football game that cements the Rams as a Super Bowl contender.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 23, Titans 13
Week 10 – @ San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco surprised a lot of people in 2020 given the number of injuries it dealt with. We expect the front seven to be a lot stronger this fall and the 49ers’ future is bright with Trey Lance. But the departure of defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, paired with concerns in the secondary, gives the Rams enough of an edge to enter the bye week at 8-2.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 27, 49ers 21
Week 11 – BYE
Week 12 – @ Green Bay Packers
It’s a safe bet to assume Aaron Rodgers won’t be starting for the Packers in this game. Whether it’s Drew Lock, Jordan Love or Blake Bortles under center, Green Bay is poised to take a significant step backward in 2021. This defense against any of those passers is a recipe for a Rams’ double-digit victory.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 27, Packers 14
Week 13 – vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence is going to be a very good, potentially even great, NFL quarterback. But going from the Clemson Tigers to the Jacksonville Jaguars will give him whiplash as this team is not ready to be competitive in Urban Meyer’s first season. The Jaguars will show some fight, but Los Angeles knows how to make life difficult for rookie quarterbacks.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 30, Jaguars 21
Week 14 – @ Arizona Cardinals
Beating a top-10 NFL team once in a season can be difficult, doing it twice is unlikely. We know the Cardinals have the weapons to challenge Los Angeles and Murray is the kind of quarterback who can get hot when a playoff spot is on the line. Ultimately, that leads to Arizona pulling out the victory in an epic shootout.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Cardinals 38, Rams 34
Week 15 – vs. Seattle Seahawks
Getting the Seahawks away from home and getting into their backfield are keys to victory. Without the crowd on their side, the Seahawks won’t be able to do quite as much offensively. We’ve also seen that Wilson is good for at least one turnover against the Rams’ defense.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 28, Seahawks 20
Week 16 – @ Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota might be flying under the radar right now. Its offensive line improved and the defense should be much healthier than it was last season. But this is still a team led by Kirk Cousins and that’s not a quarterback anyone can trust in marquee matchups.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 31, Vikings 24
Week 17 – @ Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore finally started building an offense around Lamar Jackson. It will take time for the 20219 NFL MVP to develop chemistry with his new receivers and for the offensive line to gel, but this will be a cohesive unit late in the year. With the speed and talent to attack the Rams, the Ravens should secure a crucial home victory.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Ravens 27, Rams 24
Week 18 – vs. San Francisco 49ers
At this point, Trey Lance will be the 49ers’ quarterback and he’ll have some NFL experience on his resume. That will create more challenges for Los Angeles, but playing at home with playoff seeding on the line is a strong motivator. We expect a defensive battle and the Rams to pull out a victory in the closing moments.
Los Angeles Rams schedule prediction: Rams 17, 49ers, 13
Los Angeles Rams projected record: 13-4
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