Los Angeles Rams Will Have Third Toughest Schedule Next Season
By Keith Rivas
As reported by CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Rams’ schedule in 2016 will only be easier than that of San Francisco and Atlanta.
Like they needed more motivation, right?
Being given the third toughest strength of schedule for next season without even setting foot in your new home has to be something that the Rams have been waiting to hear all off-season.
Per a release from the San Bernardino Sun last month, the schedule won’t be too off-center to what the Rams are accustomed to from within their division — a place they have thrived in recent memory.
Contrary to what their 7-9 record and third place finish in the NFC West might tell you initially, the major problem the Rams faced was a mid-season quarterback dilemma.
In the heart of the season, Nick Foles started to look like he wasn’t the saving grace that many on the team thought he would be.
After being at the heart of a trade between the Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, who swapped Foles for ex-Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, Foles failed to live up to his expectations.
The 2016 Schedule for @RamsNFL! Who else is excited?! #NFLtoLA #LARams #RamsNation #Rams #Ramily pic.twitter.com/EKkfu6mgFA
— Los Angeles Rams (@LARamsFanpage) January 17, 2016
In his place, Case Keenum didn’t do much better statistically, but Jeff Fisher believes more in Keenum than Foles at this point and that should speak for itself.
Other than that, running back Todd Gurley was electric for the Rams; running for 1,106 yards on 229 carries in 13 games.
The former Georgia Bulldogs star even got a Pro Bowl appearance out of it — not a bad way to kick off your NFL career.
Defensively, the biggest name for the Rams is Aaron Donald.
Donald recorded 11 sacks last year, with his biggest showing coming in Week 14 at home against the Detroit Lions where he dropped Matthew Stafford three times.
Heading into next season, they are going to need Donald and the rest of their defense to step up when it comes to knocking the ball loose from the hands of the opposing offense.
Live Feed
SideLion Report
The Rams’ first two wins last year came against division rival and eventual NFC playoff teams in the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
At the time, Seattle was the two-time conference champion and nearly two-time Super Bowl winning team, while Arizona was coming off a rebooting off-season with a healthy Carson Palmer.
Instead of giving in to them, the Rams stood their ground, eventually getting a season sweep of Seattle and splitting their series with the Cardinals.
Los Angeles lost to teams like Chicago, San Francisco, and Baltimore that they can definitely beat should they play again.
For this next season, it’s reported that the teams the Rams will get to host in Los Angeles outside of the 49ers, Seahawks, and Cardinals for divisional play include the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, and Super Bowl 50 participant Carolina Panthers.
Talk about stacked.
On the road, they’ll go up against the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, and New England Patriots outside of their divisional road games.
All of their games, in one way or another, will feature rising stars or lasting legends.
Despite this presenting an initial challenge for the Rams, what’s certain is that the franchise will go out of their way to make a statement nobody saw coming.
They’re back in Los Angeles, and they want you to know that they do mean business.
Next: Los Angeles Rams Should Go With Classic Uniforms
And even if they have to go about earning it the hard way, they’ll end up with your respect.