Each NFC division plays everyone in an AFC division every season; what division it is cycles thru in a specific repeating sequence. For the 17th game the NFL goes to the 'opposite' division (North/South or East/West) and adds a 17th game from that division. Teams from each division play the team that finished where they did (1st vs 1st, 2nd vs 2nd, etc.)
Further explanation looking at how the Rams ended up playing the Ravens.
In 2017 the Rams played all 4 teams in the AFC South.
In 2018 it was the AFC West
In 2019 it was the AFC North
And in 2020 it was the AFC East.
So that is the Rams rotation: South, West, North, East. It has been that way since the NFL went to a 16 game schedule and as things stand it will be that way as far into the future as you care to look. (In 2050, in case you were wondering, the Rams play the AFC West.)
Using that rotation the Rams cycled back to the AFC South in 2021. The 17th game, then, came from the AFC North (the opposite of South). The Rams finished second in their division in 2020 so their 17th game ended up being the 2nd place team from the AFC North: the Ravens.
Looking ahead to the 2022 regular season, the Rams will play everyone in the AFC West ... so to find their 17th game you look to the AFC East. Assuming the Rams and Bills hang on to first place thru the final week of this season they will play each other in 2022. (In LA, since the Rams were on the road for their 17th game this year.)
AlbaNY_Ram
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/05/2022 10:07AM by AlbaNY_Ram.
