Rams' 2023 schedule is 9th-hardest based on opponent record in 2022

[theramswire.usatoday.com] Rams' 2023 schedule is 9th-hardest based on opponent record in 2022

Cameron DaSilva
January 27, 2023 7:11 am PT
The Rams finished third in the NFC West at 5-12, one of the worst records in football. That doesn’t necessarily mean their schedule will be easy in 2023, though.

Other than their division rivals, the Rams’ list of opponents next season includes the Eagles, Steelers, Packers, Cowboys, Ravens and Bengals, among others. Collectively, the Rams’ 2023 opponents had a record of 152-133-3 (.533) this past season. That gives L.A. the ninth-hardest schedule in the NFL, with the Eagles boasting the toughest schedule (.566).

The Falcons are set to have the easiest schedule in football, with their 2023 opponents going 119-167-3 this season.

Of course, this isn’t a perfect way to predict the difficulty of a team’s schedule. Every team in the NFL will look different in September than it does now. There’s still free agency, the draft and likely some trades on the horizon, which will shift the balance across the league.

For instance, there’s a chance Aaron Rodgers won’t be on the Packers and Lamar Jackson won’t be on the Ravens in 2023, which would presumably make the Rams’ schedule a little bit easier, assuming those players don’t land with another team on L.A.’s list of opponents.

The Rams could look much different, too. If they move some of their big-name players to clear cap space and recoup draft picks, this roster may not be as star-studded as it is now.