The journey to the Super Bowl has officially begun for the Los Angeles Rams as the NFL announced its complete schedule for the 2021 season.
With the addition of a 17th game, things certainly won’t be easy for the Rams, who already play in the toughest division in football. The Baltimore Ravens, who figure to be in the Super Bowl mix once again, will be the team’s 17th opponent.
L.A. was given five primetime games as well as a Week 11 bye though, and here is a complete week-by-week breakdown of the 2021 schedule:
Week 1: Rams host Bears on Sunday, Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m. PT
This will mark the first regular-season game with fans at SoFi Stadium, and it should be a packed house with two NFC playoff teams from 2020 squaring off on Sunday Night Football. Even though the Bears traded up to draft Justin Fields in the first round, the Rams will likely see Andy Dalton at quarterback considering it’s Week 1. This will also mark Matthew Stafford’s Rams debut and he will be facing a familiar in the opponent from the NFC North.
Week 2: Indianapolis Colts host Rams on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. PT
The Rams hit the road for the first time of the year for a showdown with an AFC playoff team from 2020 in the Colts. Despite the major changes under center, they have high hopes that Carson Wentz is poised for a resurgence this season. Wentz’s familiarity with this team could provide some intrigue after they passed on him in favor of Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff back in 2016.
Week 3: Rams host Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 1:25 p.m. PT
L.A. returns home for perhaps their most high-profile matchup of the season with the reigning Super Bowl champion Buccaneers coming to town. It will be quite the star-studded event that will likely be billed as a potential shootout between Stafford and Tom Brady. This should give the team a good idea of whether or not they are right to have championship expectations.
Week 4: Rams host Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Oct, 3 at 1:05 p.m. PT
The Rams are looking to take advantage of a two-game home stand by notching their first NFC West win over the Cardinals. Head coach Sean McVay has not lossed to them since his arrival in 2017 and will have an opportunity to keep the win streak going against a talented team under the tutelage of Kliff Kingsbury.
Week 5: Seattle Seahawks host Rams on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 5:20 p.m. PT
L.A. begins its first road trip of the season with another divisional matchup only against Seattle on primetime, their lone Thursday night game of the season. They will no doubt be looking to avenge their loss versus the Rams in last year’s Wild Card. Although the short week of rest does not do either team any favors, the track record of close games between these opponents indicates it will once again be a competitive affair with playoff implications on the line down the road.
Week 6: New York Giants host Rams on Sunday, Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. PT
The Rams finish off their road stint by going to the East Coast to take on the Giants at MetLife Stadium. They surpassingly managed to give them a run for their money in Week 4 last season but failed to score a touchdown in the 17-9 loss.
Week 7: Rams host Detroit Lions on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 1:05 p.m. PT
The Rams are not the only ones returning to SoFi Stadium with quarterback Jared Goff set to pay a visit to his former stomping grounds, only with a different team in the Lions. Stafford will also get a healthy dose of nostalgia when he squares off against his old squad for the first time since the blockbuster trade this offseason.
Week 8: Houston Texans host Rams on Sunday, Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. PT
L.A. heads down to the Lone Star State for a favorable matchup against a Houston team that has undergone some significant changes. Regardless of all the uncertainty surrounding quarterback Deshaun Watsons off-field, legal issues, there is good reason to be optimistic that they come back home with a win.
Week 9: Rams host Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Nov. 7 at 5:20 p.m. PT
The Rams begin the second half of the season by facing off against another AFC playoff team from 2020 in the Titans. There is no question that they will do what they can to put the ground and pound with Derrick Henry on full display against last season’s No. 1-ranked defense.
Week 10: San Francisco 49ers host Rams on Monday, Nov. 15 5:15 p.m. PT
It is no secret that head coach Kyle Shanahan has had McVay’s number in recent years and is now hoping to build off last season’s sweep in primetime on Monday Night Football. This task could prove even more daunting for the Rams if Shanahan has a healthy squad at his disposal. Given how late in the 2021 campaign these two NFC rivals are facing off, a win this week could put either team in the driver’s seat for the division.
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: Green Bay Packers host Rams on Sunday, Nov. 28 at 1:25 p.m. PT
The Rams are looking to avenge their lost in last year’s playoffs versus the Packers by emerging victorious from Lambeau Field this time around. Barring some significant turn of events leading up to the start of the season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers will still be the one calling the shots for Green Bay. The extra week of rest and preparation with the bye should help pay some dividends for McVay and a familiar foe in Stafford.
Week 13: Rams host Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 1:25 p.m. PT
L.A. gets to settle down from a brutal stretch of opponents with another favorable matchup versus the rebuilding Jaguars. There are high hopes for No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, but the rookie may have his hands full against last season’s No. 1-rankled defense led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.
Week 14: Arizona Cardinals host Rams on Monday, Dec. 13 5:15 p.m. PT
The Rams will head to the desert for their second showdown with the Cardinals in what may be a crucial game for both teams to control their playoff destiny. The Monday Night Football matchup between talented offenses has all the makings of a potential shootout between he pairing of McVay/Stafford and Kingsbury/Kyler Murray.
Week 15: Rams host Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Dec. 19 at 1:25 p.m. PT
If history is correct, L.A. should expect to find itself in a pivotal position to potentially take control of the division down the final stretch. Having home-field advantage with the fans at SoFi Stadium will certainly provide an edge and they will need all the help they can get in order to play spoiler once again. The onus will fall on Donald to make quarterback Russell Wilson as uncomfortable as possible.
Week 16: Minnesota Vikings host Rams on Sunday, Dec. 26 at 10 a.m. PT
The Rams begin their most difficult road stretch of the season by wrapping up Stafford’s gauntlet of the NFC North versus the Vikings. The last time these two teams squared off was during their 38-31 shootout in Week 4 of the 2018 campaign. It will be interesting to see if the veteran gunslinger can bring back some painful memories for Minnesota.
Week 17: Baltimore Ravens host Rams on Sunday, Jan. 2 at 1:25 p.m. PT
The Ravens were added as the extra opponent on the new 17-game schedule for the Rams. Although a stay on the East Coast is hardly ideal, it will give them an opportunity for some payback from their lopsided defeat on Monday Night Football during the 2019 campaign. This infamously culminated with trash talk between cornerbacks Jalen Ramsey and Marcus Peters after the game.
Week 18: Rams host San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Jan. 9 at 1:25 p.m. PT
L.A. will close out the regular season by hopefully putting the cherry on top of a successful triumph of the NFC West by defeating their Bay Area rivals. Despite coming off an injury-plagued year, San Francisco is still just a season removed from a Super Bowl appearance and could be poised for a big comeback.
