TST/FOXSports: Most important game of Rams 2015 season

[Prime Time]

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/photos/nfl-schedule-every-team-s-most-important-game-in-2015-16-062515

St. Louis Rams 2015: The Most Important Game On The Schedule
By Brandon Bate  @NoPlanB_ on Jun 26, 2015

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

When a season consists of 16 games, every one matters. But which one is most important for the St. Louis Rams?

Over at Fox Sports, they’ve highlighted the most important games of 2015 for each NFL team. There are plenty of factors that come into play when trying to identify a team’s "most important" game.

Could it be a team that needs to get off to a fast start, and a Week 1 win equates to much needed momentum? Could it simply be a victory against a bitter rival that sparks the fire that helps a team to string together a few wins? Or maybe it’s the season finale, when a team is desperate for one final win that could push them into the postseason.

Maybe it’s combination.

They’ve pegged the Rams’ home opener [vs. the Seahawks] as the team’s most important matchup of 2015.



"A Rams victory here over the two-time defending division champion would send the statement that the Rams are very much for real in the NFC West race" reads the caption.

It goes without saying that every game against the Seahawks is a vital one. But depending on your level of disdain for a particular divisional foe, it’s [typically] a game against the Hawks or 49ers that a Rams’ fan most looks forward to celebrating a win. So Fox got it right there.

Wins against the Seahawks - who’ve been to the playoffs for three straight years, and the Super Bowl in two of them - never come easy. Seattle has won 7 out of the last 10, but the Rams have faired "better" in most recent years. Better = splitting the series in two of the past three seasons. And barring the "Great Corner Fade From Clemens-to-Quick in 2013" the series may very well be tied over the past three years.

But it’s not. And some of us [me] need to move on...

And about those home openers. I’d be hard-pressed to say that any team’s home opener is a "must win," or the most important of their season, but that opinion is my own. Losing a home opener sets a tone. Losing to a bitter rival certainly doesn’t lessen the blow.

The Rams, over the past 10 seasons, have struggled to win their first game. They’ve gone 2-8, with their only wins coming in 2006 [Broncos] and 2013 [Cardinals]. One of the eight losses came in 2009, when the Seahawks defeated the Rams 28-0 in Seattle.

So, have a look at the Rams’ 2015 schedule. Did Fox Sports get the most important matchup right?

WEEK..........OPPONENT...............HOME/AWAY


1..................Seattle Seahawks..........Home


2..................Washington Redkins....Away


3..................Pittsburgh Steelers.......Home


4..................Arizona Cardinals........Away


5..................Green Bay Packers.......Away

6..................BYE

7..................Cleveland Browns........Home


8..................San Francisco 49ers.....Home


9..................Minnesota Vikings.......Away


10................Chicago Bears..............Home


11................Baltimore Ravens........Away


12................Cincinnati Bengals......Away


13................Arizona Cardinals.......Home


14................Detroit Lions...............Home


15................Tampa Bay Bucs.........Home


16................Seattle Seahawks........Away


17................San Francisco 49ers....Away

 

[MarkMyWords]

We've just got to start fast this year and win the first two at least......

 

[DaveFan'51]

At least fox got game #1 right, I'll debate the others!

 

[…..]

I'm a huge believer in momentum. An opening win against the Seahawks could define the season.

 

[Corbin]

I agree whole heartedly that is the most important game of the year, I've said it since the schedule came out. We need to set a tone and win a very important division game right away. I really do have a feeling that in week 1 the bad JuJu from the last 10+ years of shit football will come to halt with one game that we will look back on and say " That's where we started changing the winning tradition around at"

I swear if we win this game and next and Washington and start 2-0 and Seagulls go to Green Bay next week and start 0-2 we would be looking very damn pretty with control of our own destiny. I really don't see a slow start this year, not like last year when I could see it happening.

What I wouldn't give to win the division and meet the Cowturds in the playoffs and absolutely molest the hell out of them.. PAY BACK TIME BITCHES!!!!

 

[Leuzer]

Starting the season on the right foot would mean a lot for this young team; however, I'm more interested in how we are playing at the end of the year.

A road win week 16 at Seattle would prove that we are ready for the playoffs.

 

[RAGRam]

The most important game? The next one. Just win that and we'll be 16-0.

 

[LumberTubs]

It's got to be the opener for two reasons. Firstly it's the Seahawks, not just a division rival but the NFC champs and clear favourite to win the West and secondly we need to start quickly. The D is gonna have to turn up from the first whistle because the offense is going to be rusty at best.

 

[Warner4Prez]

I'd say those first two division games are the most important. Home for Seattle as obviously everyone has pointed to, but then @ AZ is almost as important.

Gotta get a convincing win against them after crumbling in both games last year. Also, the Cards have sort of become the defacto wildcard pick from the NFC, so take a win and their chances take a blow.

 

[Selassie I]

And there's gonna be a shit load of ROD Freaks at that game!!!

Can't wait!

 

[den-the-coach]

Just like Ohio State punching the SEC bully in the mouth (Alabama) the Rams need to knock off Seattle to showcase they've grown as a young football team.

The Rams have been built similar to the Seahawks now the student needs to school the teacher. Run the damn ball right down their throat with the bruise brothers leading the way, Brown & Havenstein!

 

[bwdenverram]

First game doesn't win or lose a season but I think the home opener against the the sea bitches is such a huge statement game. We need to set the tone for the season. And as Selassie said, so many of us are planning on going to the game. You can't disappoint ROD nation!

 

[Faceplant]

The most important game? The next one. Just win that and we'll be 19-0.

Fixed.