Rams' 2020 schedule: Predicting every game, week-by-week odds, matchups, projections

Rams' 2020 schedule: Predicting every game, week-by-week odds, matchups, projections

Now a full season removed from the Super Bowl, the Rams will again struggle to return

By Patrik Walker


The NFL is a league rooted in parity, which is completely by design. Because of this reality, teams who are successful one year find it very difficult to replicate it the year after, and especially for an extended number of seasons -- Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots notwithstanding. For a team like the Los Angeles Rams, who tasted success en route to being disappointed in Super Bowl LIII by, you guessed it, the Patriots, it's all about returning to the promised land to get their hands on their first Lombardi trophy in more than 20 years. To do so, they'll need to bounce back from a 9-7 finish that saw them miss the playoffs entirely in 2019, and without All-Pro running back Todd Gurley, whom they released this offseason.

Both of those variables apply a lot of pressure to quarterback Jared Goff to step up big after signing his monstrous contract extension last offseason, and for head coach Sean McVay to regain some of the luster he lost as teams seemed to figure him out a bit after having not been able to do so the year prior. They'll both have their hands full in the NFC West though, because the San Francisco 49ers are attempting to stave off the same Super Bowl hangover the Rams are still climbing out of, the Seattle Seahawks are most definitely locked and reloaded, and the Arizona Cardinals are no longer the butt of anyone's jokes.

An unforgiving schedule doesn't help the Rams' chances, but they can make waves if they remain focused. The question is, will those waves be big enough to again change the landscape of the NFL in their favor?

Let's take a look.

(Over/under win totals for every opponent courtesy of William Hill Sports Book)

Week 1 vs. Cowboys
Line: Cowboys -2.5
Opponent win total: O/U 9.5

Prediction: There will be a ton of hype fueling this matchup, and for lots of reasons on both sides of the field. For the Rams, it's about making sure they deliver a win in the inaugural game at SoFi Stadium, and in a battle with a team they've recently become adversaries with. The Rams and Cowboys have had some intense battles as of late, and this will likely be no different, but the latter might have too much offensive firepower for the former to shut down in this one. After all, Jalen Ramsey can't be everywhere at the same time.

Projected record: 0-1

Full Article-
[www.cbssports.com]