Make It Make Sense
The head-scratcher is Week 3.
Not only is the Rams-Eagles rematch not the kickoff game as some had hoped, it's not a prime time game at all, and it's not even a Sunday game of the week!
Instead, it's an early window, regional contest. As we alluded to above, what a golden opportunity to make a statement.
The Bright (and Early) Side
Let's spin it positively: We know Sean McVay's Rams play extraordinarily well in the early window.
And as much as they're zigzagging across the country this season, it might be advantageous to get home from Nashville, Philadelphia, and Charlotte at a decent hour. (We'll see what they choose to do following the 10:00 a.m. kick in Baltimore before heading to London.)
Weather or Not
Plus, for those who wanted another shot at the Eagles in better conditions, it shouldn't be snowing September 21 in Philadelphia.
In fact, there's no real weather concern on the Rams slate this year. Their only road trips after Thanksgiving are to Charlotte in late November, then Glendale (indoors), Seattle (cold and wet the norm), and Atlanta (indoors).
South by South West
The first indication of whether the Rams are capable of winning the NFC West is whether they can win the AFC South. They'll face all four opponents from that division before the bye, including the Texans, Titans, and Colts all crammed into September.
Top Two and Not Two
In that opening month, the Rams are scheduled to face each of the top two rookies from the 2025 Draft.
Their showdown with Cam Ward and the Titans in Nashville lands in Week 2. It didn't go LA's way against Caleb Williams and the Bears last September, unfortunately, but playing a rookie quarterback early in his tenure should bode well. In this case, hosting the Rams figures to be Ward's second career NFL start (and his home debut).
Travis Hunter, prized two-way pick of the Jags, will be on the opposing sideline at Wembley Stadium in Week 7.
Apart from Ward and Hunter, the only other Top 10 selections on the Rams slate are Tetairoa McMillan of the Panthers (eighth overall) and Kelvin Banks of the Saints (ninth).
Homecoming King
As for No. 10, the league's schedule-makers paid Cooper Kupp's homecoming no mind, assigning it a regional window kickoff in mid-November. More family business than national news, apparently.
I'm at least thankful that Kupp returns to SoFi Stadium in Week 11 before the Rams go to Lumen Field in Week 16.
That feels appropriate.