The Los Angeles Rams will enter the 2026 season as Super Bowl favorites after a dominant 2025 campaign. LA will certainly be in the national spotlight after getting five primetime games on their schedule. But with that much attention will come even higher expectations.
Will the Rams finally make it back to the Super Bowl this season?
Here are game-by-game predictions for every Rams game now that the full 2026 schedule has been released.
Week 1 vs. San Francisco 49ers
This game could be a complete wild card because it will take place in Melbourne, Australia. There's no telling how playing Down Under in Week 1 will impact either team.
Perhaps health could be the deciding factor in this one. San Francisco should be completely healthy to start the season, with only a few players potentiality out rehabbing pre-existing injuries.
If the 49ers are going to get the better of the Rams in 2026, it will happen in Australia.
LOSS
Record: 0-1
Week 2 vs. New York Giants
New York's fearsome defense will present McVay with the ultimate coaching challenge.
The Giants have the talent at edge rusher to get after Stafford with just four rushers. That is a recipe for success against any NFL team.
But LA could make this an easy win if they come to the table with answers to New York's blitzes. On the other side of the ball, Jaxson Dart and the Giants should have a tough time moving the ball against the Rams. Especially with their rebuilt secondary.
This should be an exciting game to watch, but an easy one for the Rams to win.
WIN
Record: 1-1
Week 3 at Denver Broncos
Playing at Mile High is never easy for opposing teams. It will be an even bigger challenge as the Broncos have improved a lot over the past few seasons.
Ultimately, this game may come down to how well Bo Nix plays during his third NFL season. If Nix gets on a heater, can he outpace Stafford in a classic quarterback duel?
It is certainly possible, but the Rams deserve the benefit of the doubt.
WIN
Record: 2-1
Week 4 at Philadelphia Eagles
The Rams may have revenge on the mind after the Eagles kept them from the NFC Championship during the 2024 season.
On paper, it looks like LA could finally get their revenge. They have a better quarterback, coaching staff, and all around more complete roster than Philly.
Despite all of that, this still feels like a major trap game.
LOSS
Record: 2-2
Week 5 vs. Buffalo Bills
The Bills are one of the few teams in the NFL who can truly challenge the Rams.
Ultimately, it comes down to Josh Allen being a special quarterback. His ability to push the ball down the field, run over defenders, and improvise like Patrick Mahomes makes him almost impossible to stop when he's on a roll.
The mystery heading into this game is how well Buffalo's defense can slow down Stafford and friends. If the Bills can get one or two crucial stops, they could easily beat the Rams.
LOSS
Record: 2-3
Week 6 vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals could look very similar to the Rams in two or three years. But the 2026 version of the team is quite flawed in a few important areas, notably the quarterback position.
Arizona would need something fluky to happen to beat LA. Once the Rams gain a lead, the game can suddenly become a contest of which team can run the ball better. Almost nobody is going to beat the Rams at their own game.
This should be relatively easy win for LA, at least within the context of divisional matchups.
WIN
Record: 3-3
Week 7 at Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders should be much improved in 2026, but they are not close to competing with a contender like the Rams.
Anything can happen in the NFL, but it would be truly shocking if the Rams find a way to lose this one.
WIN
Record: 4-3
Week 8 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The NFL's “Battle for Los Angeles” has only happened twice so far since the Chargers moved from San Diego. This third installment could be the best game of the bunch.
Jim Harbaugh always has the Chargers ready to play above their weight class. That could go to a completely different level against the Rams, who are widely regarded as the “real” Los Angeles team among many NFL fans.
Justin Herbert has everything he needs around him to keep up with Matthew Stafford in a shootout. But Herbert and the Chargers need to be at the top of their game to get a win.
This game should feature plenty of fireworks with the Rams coming out on top.
WIN
Record: 5-3
Week 9 at Washington Commanders
Washington is a difficult team to figure out ahead of the 2026 season. They likely won't have the same success they did in 2024, but they should be better than they were last season.
Commanders fans have plenty to be excited for ahead of the new season and this game against the Rams will be a true measuring stick.
Unfortunately for them, there's almost no way they are coming out of this one with a win.
WIN
Record: 6-3
Week 10 at Arizona Cardinals
If the Cardinals cannot beat the Rams in the desert, they won't have a better chance at SoFi Stadium.
LA sweeps Arizona for the second season in a row.
WIN
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Record: 7-3
Week 11 BYE WEEK
Week 12 vs. Green Bay Packers
The health of Micah Parsons looks like the biggest factor in this game.
If the Packers do not have Parsons, it is difficult to see how their defense will keep Stafford and the Rams in check. But if Parsons is healthy, he could make enough plays to give the Packers a chance.
LA gets the nod here because of their home field advantage.
WIN
Record: 8-3
Week 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City posed a bigger threat to LA two years ago. But now it feels like that dynamic has shifted into LA's favor.
The storyline headed into this game will almost certainly focus on Patrick Mahomes going up against his old teammates Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. That actually highlights the X-factor for this game: the Rams simply have the better defense in this matchup.
The Rams could win this game even if it took place at Arrowhead.
WIN
Record: 9-3
Week 14 at San Francisco 49ers
The Rams absolutely need to beat the 49ers and Seahawks whenever they play each other in 2026. If they fall too far behind in the NFC West divisional race, they will be stuck as a wild card team once again.
McVay knows that he can lean on Matthew Stafford as the ultimate advantage over San Francisco. No offense to Brock Purdy, but he is not on Stafford's level.
LA wins a high-scoring game in San Francisco.
WIN
Record: 10-3
Week 15 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas looks like they could be a frisky team during the 2026 season. George Pickens gives them some much-needed pop on offense and the defense should be much improved, which isn't really saying that much.
The LA's offense against Dallas' defense is the side of the ball to watch here. Can Christian Parker cook up a game plan that confuses McVay enough to give the Cowboys an edge?
WIN
Record: 11-3
Week 16 at Seattle Seahawks
At this point, it feels like LA vs. Seattle could go either way regardless of where the game is taking place.
Seattle gets the nod here because of their truly unique defensive scheme.
LOSS
Record: 11-4
Week 17 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield always gives Tampa a chance to win. That could make the Buccaneers a dangerous opponent for the Rams, perhaps even putting this game into trap territory.
But Stafford is wired the same way and has an intense competitive spirit. Stafford and McVay never back down from a challenge on the football field.
The fact that this game takes place in Tampa almost tips it over into being an upset. But the Rams find a way to come away with the win this time.
WIN
Record: 12-4
Week 18 vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks and Rams delivered some absolute fireworks during the 2025 season. Hopefully the same is true later this fall.
Both teams are returning many of the same starters they had a year ago. Seattle is probably in worse shape after letting players walk following the Super Bowl. That means this matchup could look very similar to how it did last year.
The Seahawks have one of the best home field advantages in the entire NFL. That give them the edge in this one.
LOSS
Record: 12-5
The Los Angeles Rams will enter the 2026 season as Super Bowl favorites after a dominant 2025 campaign. LA will certainly be in the national spotlight after getting five primetime games on their schedule. But with that much attention will come even higher expectations. Will the Rams finally make it back to the Super Bowl this season?