The Buccaneers are the weakest opponent in this slate of games; however, even Tampa Bay can be formidable. While they finished outside the playoffs in 2025, they’ve continued finding offensive weapons and added Reuben Bain to a defense that desperately needed more pass rushers.
Los Angeles will host the Chiefs late into the season, which means by this point Patrick Mahomes should be relatively back to normal. It would be more ideal to face the former MVP early in the season while he is still knocking the rust off from last year’s season-ending injury. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson should both have a lot to play for against their old team.
And just when you thought it couldn’t possibly get worse, the NFL asked the Rams to close the season with two matchups versus the reigning Super Bowl champions in the final three weeks. The NFC West could easily hang in the balance, and the outcomes of these games could certainly decide whether the Rams will make the playoffs at all. Last year’s three close matchups have made future contests must-see TV, and LA earned the right to play on Christmas Day.