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Los Angeles Rams Most Difficult Games of 2019
By
Trebor Tracy
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during Super Bowl LIII between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots on February 3, 2019 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Rams have already begun training camp ahead of the 2019 season. Coming in with their sights set on another Super Bowl appearance, the Rams are ready to work. With the preseason a little over a week away, Last Word on NFL is analyzing the schedules of each team around the league. This article will dissect the Los Angeles Rams most difficult games of the upcoming season.
Los Angeles Rams Most Difficult Games of 2019
1. Week Two: vs New Orleans Saints
This early-season matchup was circled by the entirety of the NFL world the day the schedules were released. After last season’s dramatic and controversial ending to the NFC Conference Championship game between these two, this will be a downright fistfight. Led by all-everything quarterback, Drew Brees, the Saints will look to test the new look Rams secondary. Wide Receiver Michael Thomas, who just signed a massive contract extension, will look to improve on his 2018 total of 1,400 receiving yards. The returning road to the Super Bowl won’t be easy for the Rams, but they’ll have a chance early to see where they stand amongst the NFL’s best.
2. Week 11: vs Chicago Bears
Another of the five playoff teams the Rams face this season, the Chicago Bears will come to Los Angeles in mid-season form. The Bears were able to shut down Jared Goff and the Rams last year, holding them to only six points and forcing four interceptions. The silver lining for Los Angeles is that they play at home this time around. Even with a healthy Todd Gurley, offense will be hard to come by for the Rams. This will be one of those games that Goff will need to show his growth, and lead his team to a win.
3. Week 10: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers may not have Antonio Brown anymore, but they do have peace of mind. Ben Roethlisberger will have a new number one in the extremely talented 22-year-old JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is ready to help fans get over the loss of Brown. In addition to the talent, Pittsburgh will have the home field advantage in early November. Not having any off-field distractions should go a long way in helping the Steelers right the ship and potentially return to the playoffs. The front four for the Rams will look to slow down the run game, giving Juju a chance to make a statement game at home.
4. Week One: at Carolina Panthers
At first glance, the Carolina Panthers don’t look like a team the Rams should be concerned with, but it isn’t just who you play, but when, and where. The Panthers have won their last five home openers. Christian McCaffrey will be hoping to exploit a Rams defense that will have several new additions still learning the playbook and schemes. Opening games are always a toss-up, with starters playing an entire game for the first time and may not be in complete game shape. Add to that playing on the road against a versatile quarterback in Cam Newton and explosive running back, and an early-season loss could very well be in the cards.
5. Week Five: at Seattle Seahawks
This will be the first divisional game in 2019 for the Rams, as they travel into hostile 12 territory, facing the Seattle Seahawks. Having lost Frank Clark in the off-season, the Seahawks do face questions about their defense coming into 2019. However, with Russell Wilson under center and second-round pick D.K. Metcalf added to the receiving corp, this offense will still get points. Having lost both games last year by a combined seven points, the Seahawks will have a chance to make an early statement within the division.
6. Week Three: at Cleveland Browns
The hype around the Cleveland Browns this season is real, and with good reason. On defense, they have Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon, and Denzel Ward all returning, as well as collegiate standout Greedy Williams joining the secondary. Baker Mayfield leads the offense with top-five receiver Odell Beckham joining this off-season. This will be the first time since 2015 that these two teams meet, so previous matchups hold no weight for this one. The Browns will be aiming to improve on their 7-8-1 record from last season, with sights set on the AFC North crown. This early season Sunday Night Football game against the reigning NFC Champs gives the Browns an opportunity to prove that they’re worthy of the hype.
7. Week 14: vs Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks will be the toughest divisional opponent the Rams will contend with. Even though the Rams will have the luxury of being at home for this late-season matchup, they will still be facing what will likely be a highly motivated Seattle team. This game will likely have big playoff implications for both teams and could be a must-win for either side. While not the toughest game, the last thing you’d want to face is a hungry Seattle team fighting for playoff survival.
8. Week 15: at Dallas Cowboys
If there is a team that has more questions surrounding the running back position than the Rams, it’s the Dallas Cowboys. As it currently stands, Ezekiel Elliott remains a training camp holdout, opting to work out in Mexico as he awaits a new contract. The success of the Cowboys is all but dependent on whether or not Elliott shows up to play this year. If he shows, the Cowboys will have a chance to build on the 10-6 record from last season. This game becomes the Cowboys possibly fighting for a better seed in the playoff picture. However, if he doesn’t show up, or misses significant time due to this dispute, the Cowboys could be looking at another mediocre season, making this game a lot easier for the visiting Rams.
https://lastwordonprofootball.com/2019/08/01/los-angeles-rams-most-difficult-games-2019/
Los Angeles Rams Easiest Games of 2019
By
Trebor Tracy
-
August 1, 2019
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with the NFC Trophy as General Manager Les Snead and Jared Goff #16 look on after defeating the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Rams have already begun training camp ahead of the 2019 season. Coming in with their sights set on another Super Bowl appearance, the Rams are ready to work. With the preseason a little over a week away, Last Word on Pro Football is analyzing the schedules of each team around the league. This article will dissect the Los Angeles Rams easiest games of the upcoming season.
The toughest games on the Rams 2019 schedule.
Los Angeles Rams Easiest Games of 2019
9. Week 7: at Atlanta Falcons
After missing the playoffs last season, the Atlanta Falcons have aspirations of returning to the postseason this year. With a solid receiver group, the Falcons will need to spread it out and not rely too heavily on Julio Jones. Matt Ryan will have his hands full with one of the league’s best pass rushes, led by Aaron Donald. If the Rams are to return to the Super Bowl as planned, they will need to show they can hold a top receiver to a quiet day, this will be that chance.
10. Week 12: Baltimore Ravens
The last time these two teams met was way back in 2015. The biggest concern for the Baltimore Ravens this year is the number of losses to the core of the defense. Add to that a second-year quarterback seeking to make the team his own, and it makes for a difficult trip to Los Angeles. Lamar Jackson was made the starter in Week 11 last season and won six of the last seven games of the year. This will be his first full year as a starter, and while the offense may put up points, the departures on defense will be too much to overcome a potent LA attack.
11. Week 13: at Arizona Cardinals
The Rams will have to wait 13 weeks to see the new-look Arizona Cardinals, and while the Cards might have new toys, they will also have some growing pains. In addition to the high profile rookie under center in Kyler Murray, the Cardinals will also have a rookie on the sidelines in new head coach, Kliff Kingsbury. Last season, the Cardinals failed to make playing at home advantages, finishing with a home record of 1-7. While they will be exciting, the expectations surrounding them should be tempered. The experience, talent, and handle of the system should help the Rams in this late-season division game.
12. Week 16: at San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers find themselves in the same boat as the Cardinals, coming off an abysmal season, filled with more hope than tangible evidence of expectation. New additions Nick Bosa and Dee Ford will bolster a defense ranked 20th in 2018. However, in a league rife with young, exciting, talented quarterbacks, Nick Mullens’ name isn’t among those on that list. There is a reason to be excited if you’re the 49ers, but they are still far away from being on the same level as the two-time NFC West champions.
13. Week 17: vs Arizona Cardinals
The season finale will be played at home, against the rookie Kyle Murray. If all goes to plan for the Rams, this will be a game where they can rest some of their regular starters as they prepare for the postseason. The Rams lead the series with a record of 41-38-2 and have won the last four games between the two. Depending on how well the season goes for Arizona, this could be an important game for their berth into the playoffs, but in a stacked NFC that’s unlikely to happen. Worst case scenario, the Rams need this win to get into the playoffs themselves, in which case hosting a rookie quarterback and rookie coach at home is the best of a bad situation.
14. Week 4: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jameis Winston comes into the season as one of the quarterbacks with the most to prove. While new head coach Bruce Arians has expressed faith in his young quarterback, Winston hasn’t won more than five games in a season, in two years. In addition to a questionable quarterback, the Bucs lack an established running game. The lack of threat from the backfield means Aaron Donald and company can pin their ears back. These teams have only played 24 times, with the Rams holding the series advantage with a record of 16-8. It’s hard to see the Bucs being able to stop the Los Angeles pass rush, and with pressure on Winston, it’s hard seeing Tampa Bay being able to find success.
15. Week Six: vs San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers hold the slim advantage in the series, with a record of 69-67-3, but that could change by the end of the 2019 season. The reason this is the easier of the two games against San Francisco comes down to home-field advantage. While the Rams may not be known for their support at home, the 49ers aren’t particularly known for their support away from the Bay Area. Los Angeles won by a combined score of 87-42 over the two matchups between the two last season, but as mentioned before, the 49ers have made additions to their defense.
Third-round draft pick, running back Darrell Henderson, has been all the buzz surrounding Rams camp. If Sean McVay does decide to keep Todd Gurley on some type of load management regime, Henderson could use this game to help find a rhythm as he gets used to the professional level. Either way, the Rams should once again be the favorites to come out of their division and will be a real threat to do so undefeated again.
16. Week Eight: vs Cincinnati Bengals
This is another team the Rams will face led by a rookie head coach. The new man in charge, head coach Zac Taylor, will be a familiar face to Los Angeles. The former Rams assistant coach now heads his own team and will look to pull off a major mid-season upset on the road. The reason this is one of the easiest games for the Rams has a lot to do with the Bengals finishing dead last in team defense. In addition, they finished 26th in offense and have made no significant additions aside from head coach. Andy Dalton, who hasn’t had a winning season since 2015, is likely in his last season with the team, barring any unforeseen Super Bowl runs.
A.J. Green will likely miss the first few games of the season with an injury sustained in training camp, making his status for this Week Eight matchup unknown. The Rams will most likely come into the game heavy favorites, especially if they are playing at the level they expect to.
https://lastwordonprofootball.com/2019/08/01/los-angeles-rams-easiest-games-2019/
By
Trebor Tracy
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) during Super Bowl LIII between the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots on February 3, 2019 at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Rams have already begun training camp ahead of the 2019 season. Coming in with their sights set on another Super Bowl appearance, the Rams are ready to work. With the preseason a little over a week away, Last Word on NFL is analyzing the schedules of each team around the league. This article will dissect the Los Angeles Rams most difficult games of the upcoming season.
Los Angeles Rams Most Difficult Games of 2019
1. Week Two: vs New Orleans Saints
This early-season matchup was circled by the entirety of the NFL world the day the schedules were released. After last season’s dramatic and controversial ending to the NFC Conference Championship game between these two, this will be a downright fistfight. Led by all-everything quarterback, Drew Brees, the Saints will look to test the new look Rams secondary. Wide Receiver Michael Thomas, who just signed a massive contract extension, will look to improve on his 2018 total of 1,400 receiving yards. The returning road to the Super Bowl won’t be easy for the Rams, but they’ll have a chance early to see where they stand amongst the NFL’s best.
2. Week 11: vs Chicago Bears
Another of the five playoff teams the Rams face this season, the Chicago Bears will come to Los Angeles in mid-season form. The Bears were able to shut down Jared Goff and the Rams last year, holding them to only six points and forcing four interceptions. The silver lining for Los Angeles is that they play at home this time around. Even with a healthy Todd Gurley, offense will be hard to come by for the Rams. This will be one of those games that Goff will need to show his growth, and lead his team to a win.
3. Week 10: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers may not have Antonio Brown anymore, but they do have peace of mind. Ben Roethlisberger will have a new number one in the extremely talented 22-year-old JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is ready to help fans get over the loss of Brown. In addition to the talent, Pittsburgh will have the home field advantage in early November. Not having any off-field distractions should go a long way in helping the Steelers right the ship and potentially return to the playoffs. The front four for the Rams will look to slow down the run game, giving Juju a chance to make a statement game at home.
4. Week One: at Carolina Panthers
At first glance, the Carolina Panthers don’t look like a team the Rams should be concerned with, but it isn’t just who you play, but when, and where. The Panthers have won their last five home openers. Christian McCaffrey will be hoping to exploit a Rams defense that will have several new additions still learning the playbook and schemes. Opening games are always a toss-up, with starters playing an entire game for the first time and may not be in complete game shape. Add to that playing on the road against a versatile quarterback in Cam Newton and explosive running back, and an early-season loss could very well be in the cards.
5. Week Five: at Seattle Seahawks
This will be the first divisional game in 2019 for the Rams, as they travel into hostile 12 territory, facing the Seattle Seahawks. Having lost Frank Clark in the off-season, the Seahawks do face questions about their defense coming into 2019. However, with Russell Wilson under center and second-round pick D.K. Metcalf added to the receiving corp, this offense will still get points. Having lost both games last year by a combined seven points, the Seahawks will have a chance to make an early statement within the division.
6. Week Three: at Cleveland Browns
The hype around the Cleveland Browns this season is real, and with good reason. On defense, they have Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon, and Denzel Ward all returning, as well as collegiate standout Greedy Williams joining the secondary. Baker Mayfield leads the offense with top-five receiver Odell Beckham joining this off-season. This will be the first time since 2015 that these two teams meet, so previous matchups hold no weight for this one. The Browns will be aiming to improve on their 7-8-1 record from last season, with sights set on the AFC North crown. This early season Sunday Night Football game against the reigning NFC Champs gives the Browns an opportunity to prove that they’re worthy of the hype.
7. Week 14: vs Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks will be the toughest divisional opponent the Rams will contend with. Even though the Rams will have the luxury of being at home for this late-season matchup, they will still be facing what will likely be a highly motivated Seattle team. This game will likely have big playoff implications for both teams and could be a must-win for either side. While not the toughest game, the last thing you’d want to face is a hungry Seattle team fighting for playoff survival.
8. Week 15: at Dallas Cowboys
If there is a team that has more questions surrounding the running back position than the Rams, it’s the Dallas Cowboys. As it currently stands, Ezekiel Elliott remains a training camp holdout, opting to work out in Mexico as he awaits a new contract. The success of the Cowboys is all but dependent on whether or not Elliott shows up to play this year. If he shows, the Cowboys will have a chance to build on the 10-6 record from last season. This game becomes the Cowboys possibly fighting for a better seed in the playoff picture. However, if he doesn’t show up, or misses significant time due to this dispute, the Cowboys could be looking at another mediocre season, making this game a lot easier for the visiting Rams.
https://lastwordonprofootball.com/2019/08/01/los-angeles-rams-most-difficult-games-2019/
Los Angeles Rams Easiest Games of 2019
By
Trebor Tracy
-
August 1, 2019
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates with the NFC Trophy as General Manager Les Snead and Jared Goff #16 look on after defeating the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Rams have already begun training camp ahead of the 2019 season. Coming in with their sights set on another Super Bowl appearance, the Rams are ready to work. With the preseason a little over a week away, Last Word on Pro Football is analyzing the schedules of each team around the league. This article will dissect the Los Angeles Rams easiest games of the upcoming season.
The toughest games on the Rams 2019 schedule.
Los Angeles Rams Easiest Games of 2019
9. Week 7: at Atlanta Falcons
After missing the playoffs last season, the Atlanta Falcons have aspirations of returning to the postseason this year. With a solid receiver group, the Falcons will need to spread it out and not rely too heavily on Julio Jones. Matt Ryan will have his hands full with one of the league’s best pass rushes, led by Aaron Donald. If the Rams are to return to the Super Bowl as planned, they will need to show they can hold a top receiver to a quiet day, this will be that chance.
10. Week 12: Baltimore Ravens
The last time these two teams met was way back in 2015. The biggest concern for the Baltimore Ravens this year is the number of losses to the core of the defense. Add to that a second-year quarterback seeking to make the team his own, and it makes for a difficult trip to Los Angeles. Lamar Jackson was made the starter in Week 11 last season and won six of the last seven games of the year. This will be his first full year as a starter, and while the offense may put up points, the departures on defense will be too much to overcome a potent LA attack.
11. Week 13: at Arizona Cardinals
The Rams will have to wait 13 weeks to see the new-look Arizona Cardinals, and while the Cards might have new toys, they will also have some growing pains. In addition to the high profile rookie under center in Kyler Murray, the Cardinals will also have a rookie on the sidelines in new head coach, Kliff Kingsbury. Last season, the Cardinals failed to make playing at home advantages, finishing with a home record of 1-7. While they will be exciting, the expectations surrounding them should be tempered. The experience, talent, and handle of the system should help the Rams in this late-season division game.
12. Week 16: at San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers find themselves in the same boat as the Cardinals, coming off an abysmal season, filled with more hope than tangible evidence of expectation. New additions Nick Bosa and Dee Ford will bolster a defense ranked 20th in 2018. However, in a league rife with young, exciting, talented quarterbacks, Nick Mullens’ name isn’t among those on that list. There is a reason to be excited if you’re the 49ers, but they are still far away from being on the same level as the two-time NFC West champions.
13. Week 17: vs Arizona Cardinals
The season finale will be played at home, against the rookie Kyle Murray. If all goes to plan for the Rams, this will be a game where they can rest some of their regular starters as they prepare for the postseason. The Rams lead the series with a record of 41-38-2 and have won the last four games between the two. Depending on how well the season goes for Arizona, this could be an important game for their berth into the playoffs, but in a stacked NFC that’s unlikely to happen. Worst case scenario, the Rams need this win to get into the playoffs themselves, in which case hosting a rookie quarterback and rookie coach at home is the best of a bad situation.
14. Week 4: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jameis Winston comes into the season as one of the quarterbacks with the most to prove. While new head coach Bruce Arians has expressed faith in his young quarterback, Winston hasn’t won more than five games in a season, in two years. In addition to a questionable quarterback, the Bucs lack an established running game. The lack of threat from the backfield means Aaron Donald and company can pin their ears back. These teams have only played 24 times, with the Rams holding the series advantage with a record of 16-8. It’s hard to see the Bucs being able to stop the Los Angeles pass rush, and with pressure on Winston, it’s hard seeing Tampa Bay being able to find success.
15. Week Six: vs San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers hold the slim advantage in the series, with a record of 69-67-3, but that could change by the end of the 2019 season. The reason this is the easier of the two games against San Francisco comes down to home-field advantage. While the Rams may not be known for their support at home, the 49ers aren’t particularly known for their support away from the Bay Area. Los Angeles won by a combined score of 87-42 over the two matchups between the two last season, but as mentioned before, the 49ers have made additions to their defense.
Third-round draft pick, running back Darrell Henderson, has been all the buzz surrounding Rams camp. If Sean McVay does decide to keep Todd Gurley on some type of load management regime, Henderson could use this game to help find a rhythm as he gets used to the professional level. Either way, the Rams should once again be the favorites to come out of their division and will be a real threat to do so undefeated again.
16. Week Eight: vs Cincinnati Bengals
This is another team the Rams will face led by a rookie head coach. The new man in charge, head coach Zac Taylor, will be a familiar face to Los Angeles. The former Rams assistant coach now heads his own team and will look to pull off a major mid-season upset on the road. The reason this is one of the easiest games for the Rams has a lot to do with the Bengals finishing dead last in team defense. In addition, they finished 26th in offense and have made no significant additions aside from head coach. Andy Dalton, who hasn’t had a winning season since 2015, is likely in his last season with the team, barring any unforeseen Super Bowl runs.
A.J. Green will likely miss the first few games of the season with an injury sustained in training camp, making his status for this Week Eight matchup unknown. The Rams will most likely come into the game heavy favorites, especially if they are playing at the level they expect to.
https://lastwordonprofootball.com/2019/08/01/los-angeles-rams-easiest-games-2019/
