The Rams enter 2023 with the burden of expectations lifted.
The 2022 season was immensely disappointing and worsened by a myriad of accidents. Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, and Matthew Stafford all missed time final yr, with Stafford struggling a spinal harm battling a excessive ankle sprain all yr.
The outcome? A 5-12 file, probably the most losses for a defending Tremendous Bowl champion in NFL historical past. They’re seeking to rebound this yr as they hope to return to full energy, and they are going to have to take action in opposition to a schedule that, whereas not outrageously tough, additionally is not crammed with pushovers both.
Sean McVay is again in tow for the Rams, seeking to reclaim his title as the very best teaching thoughts within the NFL. This offseason was not an ostentatiously busy one — the Rams are hoping their returning faces might be sufficient to deliver them again. However Jalen Ramsey is out of L.A., and Cam Akers is (one way or the other) nonetheless on the roster. Are the Rams doomed to repeat 2022? Or will they pull out of final yr’s nosedive?
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Here is a take a look at the Rams’ schedule this yr as they attempt to get again to the highest of the NFC West.
Los Angeles Rams schedule 2023
The Rams’ schedule might be unveiled as a part of the NFL’s schedule launch on Thursday, Might 11.
- House: Cardinals, Seahawks, 49ers, Eagles, Commanders, Browns, Steelers, Saints
- Away: Cardinals, Seahawks, 49ers, Cowboys, Giants, Ravens, Bengals, Packers, Colts
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Rams energy of schedule
The Rams might be enjoying the AFC North and NFC East divisions this yr, together with the third-place groups within the NFC North and NFC South and the Colts from the AFC South. Meaning the Packers and Saints are the provides for them this season, as Inexperienced Bay begins its post-Aaron Rodgers life and the Saints usher within the Derek Carr period. The Colts, in the meantime, are coming into the age of Anthony Richardson, whom they drafted fourth total this offseason.
Even with these lower-placed groups, the AFC North and NFC East have them on the 17th-toughest schedule within the league, per Sharp Soccer.
MORE: Which NFL groups have the simplest, hardest energy of schedule in 2023?
Hardest exams: The hardest exams for the Rams embrace some very tough street video games in Baltimore, Cincinnati, New York, and Inexperienced Bay. Temperature can usually be an element on these fields, and they are going to must cope with some excellent groups in these stadiums. The Packers and Giants should be comparatively unknown entities — the Packers particularly — however the Ravens and Bengals have critical ambitions this yr.
Then there’s the Rams enjoying in a division with two playoff groups from final season, the 49ers and Seahawks. The Rams must show themselves throughout the West to return to the highest of the NFC, not to mention the NFL.
Greatest breaks: By ending in third, the Rams did assist themselves out — to a level. The Saints are in a spot of transition and the Colts are too, which means they are able to make some waves in these video games. Nevertheless, it is finally going to come back all the way down to well being.
Backside line: As beforehand said: The Rams want to remain wholesome. The cruel actuality round Matthew Stafford is that he’s 35 years previous, and that is not an untouched 35 both. He is taken some licks alongside the street. In the meantime, Kupp is enjoying a place the place accidents beget accidents on a regular basis, so the Rams are putting quite a bit on him returning to type.
The Rams should not a essentially unhealthy staff. They most likely aren’t a 5-12 staff. However this season did not precisely smile upon them by way of schedule. In the event that they’re nonetheless a contender, they must show it.
Report prediction: 7-10
