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2014 Rams Schedule Analysis
By Tony Softli
http://www.101sports.com/2014/04/27/2014-rams-schedule-analysis/
The St. Louis Rams will undoubtedly have the NFC West championship as their No.1 goal in 2014, with the Super Bowl as their ultimate goal. The schedule that was dished out by the NFL and network programming communities when it comes to the team, however, is brutal.
There are no easy games in the NFL, and it is way too early to predict wins and losses. But as soon as one starts to break down the home and away games, not to mention the sheer number of contest vs. winning and playoff teams from a season ago, things get daunting in a hurry. Oh, and in addition to the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers residing in the same division, the Rams can’t forget about the rising Arizona Cardinals, who finished last season 10-6 and narrowly missed the postseason.
At first glance, the Rams’ schedule is ruthless. For an organization whose most recent taste of the postseason came back in 2004, it can be frustrating. After all, 2014 had long been touted as the turning-point campaign for the Blue and Gold.
Bearing everything in mind, let’s break the 16-game season down into four quarters.
Week 1: Sept. 7 vs. Vikings
A first-time head coach, Mike Zimmer, arrives on the scene in Minneapolis. Expect the Vikes’ scheme and philosophy to shift dramatically.
Week 2: Sept. 14 at Buccaneers
New head coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Light have revamped the roster considerably, but how much will it matter in an ultra-competitive division?
Week 3: Sept. 21 vs. Cowboys
Longtime defensive star DeMarcus Ware is gone, and Tony Romo is returning from back surgery. Look for running back DeMarco Murray to become more important than ever.
Week 4: Sept. 28 BYE
Early bye weeks are generally not good, but this might come at the right time.
Week 5: Oct. 5 at Eagles
Coming off a bye week, traveling to the City of Brotherly Love won’t be easy.
First Quarter – Minnesota, at home, is great for the Rams and their fans. A fast start is mandatory considering what lies ahead…
Week 6: Oct. 13 vs. 49ers
Cue the lights, camera and action – “Monday Night Football” descends on the Gateway City. Prepare for a knockdown, drag-out clash of two stout defenses.
Week 7: Oct 19 vs. Seahawks
Having to host the world champions just days after an intense affair with the Niners should make for an interesting test.
Week 8: Oct. 26 at Chiefs
It’s a short trip across the state for great BBQ and a solid matchup.
Week 9: Nov. 2 at 49ers
There’s nothing like butting heads with a pre-eminent NFC West rival for the second time in three weeks.
Second Quarter – Not a week goes by without a bout against a playoff team from 2013. The good news: St. Louis draws back-to-back home contests vs. divisional foes. The bad news: Those two squads are the 49ers and Seahawks.
Week 10: Nov. 9 at Cardinals
In Bruce Arians’ second year on the job, Arizona could easily be on its way to flirting with another 10-6 record and postseason bid.
Week 11: Nov. 16 vs. Broncos
This team is incredibly driven to make amends for February’s Super Bowl embarrassment. Anticipate a chip-on-the-shoulder attitude all year, and one more huge campaign from quarterback Peyton Manning.
Week 12: Nov. 23 at Chargers
Second-year coach Mike McCoy and the revitalized Philip Rivers have this team headed in the right direction.
Week 13: Nov. 30 vs. Raiders
Oakland’s newest look consists of a roster loaded with veterans.
Third Quarter – A week after finishing their season series with San Francisco, the Rams must head back to the West Coast and contend with the Cardinals. Then a three-game stretch against the AFC West kicks into gear.
Week 14: Dec. 7 at Redskins
Robert Griffin III will have his hands full trying to make up for a bad trade by the Redskins’ front office.
Week 15: Dec. 11 vs. Cardinals
This game could have playoff implications. Rams fans, get ready for Thursday night.
Week 16: Dec. 21 vs. Giants
If there’s one thing we know about the G-Men, it’s that their momentum builds as the season winds down.
Week 17: Dec. 28 at Seattle
Bundle up for another frigid finale in the Pacific Northwest.
Fourth Quarter – Two of the last three games are at home.
First things first: The Rams must, at worst, split their NFC West games. The AFC West and NFC East will be tough, and accumulating home victories should be the goal when playing those two divisions. Thankfully, the NFC South and NFC North’s fourth-place finishers – Tampa Bay and Minnesota – round out a tough 2014 schedule.
When I look at the months of October and November, they will be huge tests for one of the youngest teams in the NFL. Arguably the toughest stretch is in the middle of the schedule, with three straight road games against the Chiefs, 49ers and Cardinals – all of whom had 10-plus wins in 2013.
Additionally, St. Louis will play in eight games that kick off at noon, six 3 p.m. starts and two nationally televised primetime tilts. All teams receive a Thursday night game to help sell the NFL brand, but I was surprised to see the Rams net a Monday night date, primarily because of last season’s 7-9 finish and the fact that they still have to move out of the basement in the NFC West.
By Tony Softli
http://www.101sports.com/2014/04/27/2014-rams-schedule-analysis/
The St. Louis Rams will undoubtedly have the NFC West championship as their No.1 goal in 2014, with the Super Bowl as their ultimate goal. The schedule that was dished out by the NFL and network programming communities when it comes to the team, however, is brutal.
There are no easy games in the NFL, and it is way too early to predict wins and losses. But as soon as one starts to break down the home and away games, not to mention the sheer number of contest vs. winning and playoff teams from a season ago, things get daunting in a hurry. Oh, and in addition to the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers residing in the same division, the Rams can’t forget about the rising Arizona Cardinals, who finished last season 10-6 and narrowly missed the postseason.
At first glance, the Rams’ schedule is ruthless. For an organization whose most recent taste of the postseason came back in 2004, it can be frustrating. After all, 2014 had long been touted as the turning-point campaign for the Blue and Gold.
Bearing everything in mind, let’s break the 16-game season down into four quarters.
Week 1: Sept. 7 vs. Vikings
A first-time head coach, Mike Zimmer, arrives on the scene in Minneapolis. Expect the Vikes’ scheme and philosophy to shift dramatically.
Week 2: Sept. 14 at Buccaneers
New head coach Lovie Smith and general manager Jason Light have revamped the roster considerably, but how much will it matter in an ultra-competitive division?
Week 3: Sept. 21 vs. Cowboys
Longtime defensive star DeMarcus Ware is gone, and Tony Romo is returning from back surgery. Look for running back DeMarco Murray to become more important than ever.
Week 4: Sept. 28 BYE
Early bye weeks are generally not good, but this might come at the right time.
Week 5: Oct. 5 at Eagles
Coming off a bye week, traveling to the City of Brotherly Love won’t be easy.
First Quarter – Minnesota, at home, is great for the Rams and their fans. A fast start is mandatory considering what lies ahead…
Week 6: Oct. 13 vs. 49ers
Cue the lights, camera and action – “Monday Night Football” descends on the Gateway City. Prepare for a knockdown, drag-out clash of two stout defenses.
Week 7: Oct 19 vs. Seahawks
Having to host the world champions just days after an intense affair with the Niners should make for an interesting test.
Week 8: Oct. 26 at Chiefs
It’s a short trip across the state for great BBQ and a solid matchup.
Week 9: Nov. 2 at 49ers
There’s nothing like butting heads with a pre-eminent NFC West rival for the second time in three weeks.
Second Quarter – Not a week goes by without a bout against a playoff team from 2013. The good news: St. Louis draws back-to-back home contests vs. divisional foes. The bad news: Those two squads are the 49ers and Seahawks.
Week 10: Nov. 9 at Cardinals
In Bruce Arians’ second year on the job, Arizona could easily be on its way to flirting with another 10-6 record and postseason bid.
Week 11: Nov. 16 vs. Broncos
This team is incredibly driven to make amends for February’s Super Bowl embarrassment. Anticipate a chip-on-the-shoulder attitude all year, and one more huge campaign from quarterback Peyton Manning.
Week 12: Nov. 23 at Chargers
Second-year coach Mike McCoy and the revitalized Philip Rivers have this team headed in the right direction.
Week 13: Nov. 30 vs. Raiders
Oakland’s newest look consists of a roster loaded with veterans.
Third Quarter – A week after finishing their season series with San Francisco, the Rams must head back to the West Coast and contend with the Cardinals. Then a three-game stretch against the AFC West kicks into gear.
Week 14: Dec. 7 at Redskins
Robert Griffin III will have his hands full trying to make up for a bad trade by the Redskins’ front office.
Week 15: Dec. 11 vs. Cardinals
This game could have playoff implications. Rams fans, get ready for Thursday night.
Week 16: Dec. 21 vs. Giants
If there’s one thing we know about the G-Men, it’s that their momentum builds as the season winds down.
Week 17: Dec. 28 at Seattle
Bundle up for another frigid finale in the Pacific Northwest.
Fourth Quarter – Two of the last three games are at home.
First things first: The Rams must, at worst, split their NFC West games. The AFC West and NFC East will be tough, and accumulating home victories should be the goal when playing those two divisions. Thankfully, the NFC South and NFC North’s fourth-place finishers – Tampa Bay and Minnesota – round out a tough 2014 schedule.
When I look at the months of October and November, they will be huge tests for one of the youngest teams in the NFL. Arguably the toughest stretch is in the middle of the schedule, with three straight road games against the Chiefs, 49ers and Cardinals – all of whom had 10-plus wins in 2013.
Additionally, St. Louis will play in eight games that kick off at noon, six 3 p.m. starts and two nationally televised primetime tilts. All teams receive a Thursday night game to help sell the NFL brand, but I was surprised to see the Rams net a Monday night date, primarily because of last season’s 7-9 finish and the fact that they still have to move out of the basement in the NFC West.