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.
