[theramswire.usatoday.com] 8 takeaways from Rams' 2022 schedule: 10 'home' games and a daunting December


Cameron DaSilva
May 12, 2022 5:40 pm PT

The Los Angeles Rams finally know their 2022 schedule after it was released on Thursday night, and it’s not an easy path back to the playoffs. They have the hardest schedule in the NFL based on opponent win percentage, and they’ll be on the road against the Packers, Chiefs and Buccaneers.

Aside from the season-opener against the Bills, the early portion of the schedule actually isn’t too bad. But the second half is nothing short of brutal, particularly in November and December.

Here are eight takeaways from the complete 2022 schedule, analyzing the finer details of the Rams’ slate of 17 games.

1
Rams essentially have 10 home games
After only getting eight of their 17 games at home last season, the Rams will be in Los Angeles for 10 of their contests in 2022. Every NFC team will have nine home games as part of the NFL’s scheduling procedure with the conferences alternating years with an extra home game, but the Rams benefit from getting the Chargers on the “road.”

Of course, the Rams and Chargers share a stadium, so that game will essentially be a home contest for both teams. The Rams’ road schedule is brutal as-is, so getting to face the Chargers without leaving Inglewood is a nice bonus.


2
Difficult December
Not only will the Rams face the Broncos on Christmas Day, but the week prior, they’ll be in Green Bay taking on the Packers in what’s likely to be a frigid Monday night at Lambeau Field. That’s a tough two-game stretch against two Super Bowl contenders. Additionally, the Rams will face the Raiders in Week 14 on a short week after hosting the Seahawks the week prior. And while it’s not technically a December game, the Rams open the new year on Jan. 1 against the Chargers.

So to close out the year, they face the Seahawks, Raiders, Packers, Broncos, Chargers and Seahawks again. Talk about brutal.


3
Super Bowl preview in September?
It’s entirely possible that the Week 1 matchup between the Rams and Bills will be the prequel to Super Bowl LVII because both of these teams are considered contenders in their respective conferences. The Bills are the Super Bowl favorites, while the Rams have the second-best odds in the NFC to win it all; the Bucs have the best odds in the NFC. We get Matthew Stafford against Josh Allen, Von Miller facing his former team, Jalen Ramsey vs. Stefon Diggs, Tre’Davious White vs. Cooper Kupp. The storylines and matchups are endless.


4
Back-loaded prime-time schedule
The Rams have five prime-time games, which is the maximum for a single team to have. One of them is in Week 1 against the Bills, and the second is in Week 4. They then go eight straight games without a prime-time matchup before getting three in a span of four weeks.

They’ll face the Raiders, Packers and Chargers in prime time in a four-game stretch, with a Christmas Day game being the only day game during that span from Dec. 8 to Jan. 1. So when the games matter most, the Rams will be on national television to close out the year.


5
Major tests in November
The Rams didn’t win a game in November last season, going 0-3. This year’s slate in November won’t be any easier. They’ll face the Bucs on the road, host the Cardinals, then go back-to-back weeks on the road against the Saints and Chiefs.

Good luck.

That’s an absolutely brutal travel schedule, going to Tampa Bay, then back home, then on the road again, heading to New Orleans and Kansas City. That four-game stretch will really test the Rams before heading into the final month and a half.


6
Earlier bye than usual
The Rams will get a week off much earlier than they’re used to. Their bye week falls on Week 7 this season, so they’ll play six games, get a week off, then play 11 straight regular-season games before the postseason begins. It would greatly benefit the Rams to earn a first-round bye in the playoffs to get a week off. Otherwise, if they go all the way to the Super Bowl, they’ll be playing 15 straight games without a break.

Here’s when the Rams’ bye weeks have been in the previous five years under Sean McVay.

2021: Week 11

2020: Week 9

2019: Week 9

2018: Week 12

2017: Week 8


7
Get the 49ers out of the way early
The Rams and 49ers will waste no time getting their two matchups out of the way early. They’ll visit the 49ers in Week 4, a Monday night game, then they’ll host them in Week 8 coming out of their bye.

The 49ers had the Rams’ number in the last three seasons, winning all six meetings in the regular season before Los Angeles took down San Francisco in the NFC title game back in January. Those two early-season matchups should be fun as the Rams welcome Trey Lance to the NFC West.

8
Toughest schedule in the NFL
Based on opponent win percentage last season, the Rams have the hardest schedule in the NFL. Their 2022 opponents had a win percentage of .567 last season, with most of the teams finishing well above .500 – including the Packers, Bills, Chiefs, Buccaneers and Cardinals. Facing the Chiefs, Packers and Bucs on the road makes things even more difficult for Los Angeles, and all three of those road games will come in the second half of the year.

When you win your division, you get a first-place schedule. And the Rams have just that.