Just three short years ago, the Los Angeles Rams were one of the worst teams in the entire NFL. They finished 4-12 during the 2016-17 season.
But today, they’re among the best teams in the league. It’s due in large part to the meteoric rise of their 33-year-old head coach Sean McVay and the talent that the front office has put out on the field.
The Rams made it all the way to Super Bowl LIII last season before losing to the New England Patriots—and they’re looking to get back to the big game again. But the Rams’ schedule might make it tough for them to go 13-3 like they did last year.
Here is a 2019-20 season preview to get Rams fans ready for the start of a new year.
The Rams’ Schedule
The Rams are scheduled to play against the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans throughout the month of August as part of their preseason.
But the real fun will begin on September 8 when the Rams travel to the East Coast to take on Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers.
From there, they’ll head back home to do battle with the New Orleans Saints on September 15 in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship Game. They’ll then go back out on the road to play the upstart Cleveland Browns on September 22.
Those three games should be a solid test for the Rams, who will surely be looking to shake off their Super Bowl hangover and get back to work. Once they reach that point, their schedule will look like this:
- September 29: At home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- October 3: On the road against the Seattle Seahawks
- October 13: At home against the San Francisco 49ers
- October 20: On the road against the Atlanta Falcons
- October 27: At home against the Cincinnati Bengals
- November 10: On the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers
- November 17: At home against the Chicago Bears
- November 25: At home against the Baltimore Ravens
- December 1: On the road against the Arizona Cardinals
- December 8: At home against the Seattle Seahawks
- December 15: On the road against the Dallas Cowboys
- December 22: On the road against the San Francisco 49ers
- December 29: At home against the Arizona Cardinals
For those keeping track, that means the Rams’ schedule will include games against five teams that made the playoffs last season. It’ll also include games against teams like the Panthers, Browns, Falcons, and Steelers that are all projected by some to make the playoffs this season.
The Rams’ Roster
Earlier this summer, ESPN put together a list of most improved teams in the NFL. The Rams landed near the bottom of the list.
It’s not hard to see why. The Rams were only able to make two big additions to their roster this offseason when they added safety Eric Weddle and linebacker Clay Matthews.
At the same time, they lost five players who played key roles for them during their Super Bowl run last season. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, safety Lamarcus Joyner, guard Rodger Saffold, center John Sullivan, and linebacker Mark Barron are all gone.
But fortunately, the team was stacked last season with more than enough talent, and they also added some new players to the mix through the 2019 NFL Draft. So they shouldn’t have too much trouble finding ways to pick up the pieces after suffering a bunch of key losses.
The Rams’ roster still features a handful of stars, including:
- Quarterback Jared Goff
- Running back Todd Gurley
- Wide receiver Brandin Cooks
- Wide receiver Robert Woods
- Left tackle Andrew Whitworth
- Defensive end Michael Brockers
- Defensive tackle Aaron Donald
- Cornerback Aqib Talib
- Cornerback Marcus Peters
And of course, the Rams also still have McVay calling the shots. McVay has already talked at length about using what he learned from losing in the Super Bowl to take the Rams to new heights.
The Rams’ Biggest Question Marks
“Can the Rams do what they did last season again?” has been one of the questions asked most when it comes to the Rams. There is a lot of speculation about whether or not the Rams are built to make another deep playoff run.
But that’s far from the only question that people have. There are also other questions about the team swirling around out there, such as:
- Will the mysterious knee injury that Todd Gurley suffered last season prove to be a long-term problem?
- Can Jared Goff play the kind of lights-out football that he played last year consistently and turn himself into a truly elite quarterback?
- Have NFL teams figured out any effective ways to slow down the Rams’ high-flying offense?
The Gurley question, in particular, could loom large as the Rams move through their schedule. He was a big part of the reason why their offense was ranked No. 2 in the league last season.
It’s going to be interesting to see if he’s able to bounce back and resume his role as one of the best running backs in the NFL.
Predictions for the Rams’ 2019-20 Season
At first glance, the Rams might look like they’re poised to be the cream of the crop in the NFC again this season. They have all the tools that a team needs to have on both sides of the football to be successful.
But don’t sleep on the other teams in the NFC West. The Seahawks, 49ers, and even the Cardinals could all present challenges for the Rams at various points during the season. The Rams probably won’t run away with the division like they did last year.
But even with the improved NFC West, it’s hard to imagine the Rams not winning the division and finding themselves back in the thick of things during the playoffs in January. The Rams’ schedule should allow them to serve as Super Bowl contenders all season long.
Catch a Rams Game During the Upcoming Season
Would you like to see the Rams in person for yourself this season?
Whether you want to see a home or away game on the Rams’ schedule, we can help you score tickets to it. It’ll give you a chance to see what the Rams are all about as they try to work their way back to the Super Bowl.
Check out the NFL tickets that we have available right now to find Rams’ tickets.
