Rams schedule thoughts: A Potentially Tough Close

Rams see Cardinals twice in final weeks of the season in addition to Lions, Seahawks, and Falcons

This is the final installment to our deep analysis of the Los Angeles Rams’ 2025 schedule.

Weeks 1-4, The Opening Quarter: Texans, Titans, Eagles, Colts

Weeks 5-8, Litmus Test Before the Bye: 49ers, Ravens, Jaguars

Weeks 9-13, Clash Against the NFC South: Saints, 49ers, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Panthers

Weeks 14-18, A Potentially Tough Close: Cardinals, Lions, Seahawks, Falcons, Cardinals

A Potentially Tough Close

The final weeks of the schedule bring a great deal of uncertainty to the table for Los Angeles. These opponents have a wide range of outcomes in the 2025 season, and ultimately they could play a significant role in shaping the Rams’ resume into a potential playoff run.

The Detroit Lions are frontrunners until they are not. While they remain one of the most talented rosters in football, it should not go without mention that they lost two of the best coordinators on their respective sides of the ball this offseason. Will there be an adjustment period similar to the 2023 Philadelphia Eagles, and will the Lions be able to right the ship early enough to stay atop the standings?

Then there are the Arizona Cardinals, Seahawks, and Atlanta Falcons. Fans of these teams are probably always optimistic, though outsiders likely have no idea how these franchises will fare in 2025.

Arizona finished 8-9 a year ago in their second rebuilding season under Jonathan Gannon. If the Cardinals are bound to take a next step, it makes sense that year three under the head coach would be time to do so. Kyler Murray is one of the most electric quarterbacks in all of football, and he’ll throw to a more experienced, prized prospect in Marvin Harrison, Jr.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Falcons win the NFC South division. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are solid and should be even better this year, but Michael Penix has the potential to be better even in his first full season starting. It’s also within the realm of possibility that Atlanta finishes among the worst teams in the NFL, of which the Rams stand to benefit by holding their first round pick in next year’s NFL Draft.

For Seattle, they are probably the least talented team in the NFC West. It’s a gamble to replace Geno Smith with Sam Darnold, and Darnold is almost certain to take a step back now that he doesn’t have the amazing supporting cast that helped him to a career breakthrough with the Minnesota Vikings. In all ways his situation will be worse with the Seahawks from pass catchers to the offensive line.

Week 14 at Arizona Cardinals; Sunday, Dec 7th

It was brutal for the Rams the last time they traveled to Arizona to play the Cardinals. They lost 10-41 and fell to 0-2 early last season.

Kyler Murray played one of the best quarterbacked games you will ever see. On the box score he went 17 of 21 (81% completion) for 266 yards, three touchdowns, and a perfect passer rating of 158.3 while adding another five carries for 59 yards with his legs. The advanced metrics are even more impressive. Murray tossed six big-time throws on a relatively low volume day without a turnover-worthy play. As a rusher he created 52 yards after first contact with two forced miss tackles and created 49 scramble yards out of structure.

The knock on Murray so far in his career is the lack of consistency. If he played like this more often he’d be in the same conversation as Patrick Mahomes.

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

Week 15 vs Detroit Lions; Sunday, Dec 14th

LA is 1-2 against Jared Goff in the Lions following their trade for Matthew Stafford. Their lone win came in a down season overall for Detroit, and even then they pushed the Rams to the wire. Goff’s offseason comments on how the Rams handled his trade will add more fuel to an already highly anticipated fire.

Still, if this season goes how the Rams and Lions both expect, this could be a preview of an important NFC playoff matchup and one of the best overall games of the season.

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images

Week 16 at Seattle Seahawks; Thursday, Dec 18th

The last time the Rams played at Seattle, Matthew Stafford tossed an epic overtime touchdown to Demarcus Robinson to silence the crown at Lumen Field.

But Seattle figures to look much different this season, and it remains to be see whether different means better.

Cooper Kupp will be on the opposing sideline. Injury concerns are a major reason why LA felt compelled to move on, and there’s a realistic chance his doesn’t play a meaningful role by the time Week 16 rolls around. Whether Kupp is on the field or not, Seattle has little firepower on offense. They’ll pair Kupp with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Marquez Valdes-Scantling is the designated deep threat.

The defense is slowly growing more talented, though Seattle still doesn’t seem to have enough to threaten a pass rush off the edge. Their interior is stout with Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams. If they can disrupt Matthew Stafford, they could have a chance.

Kara Durrette/Getty Images

Week 17 at Atlanta Falcons; Monday, Dec 29th

Penix is primed to be the next great NFL quarterback, and he showed glimpses of such in a short stint as a rookie.

The second-year quarterback has all the tools around him to be successful: a favorable scheme and offensive play caller in Zac Robinson, one of the most physically gifted backs in football in Bijan Robinson, a well-rounded offensive line, and pass catchers that include Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Darnell Mooney.

Doubt Atlanta and Raheem Morris at your own peril. Whether or not this team can make the jump remains to be seen, but they have the makings of a very promising team for the foreseeable future.

It all hangs on Penix’s ability to get them there.

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Week 18 vs Arizona Cardinals; TBD

I believe the NFC West race will come down to the Cardinals and Rams. If that is true, there’s a reasonable likelihood this game is flexed into Sunday Night Football and helps shape the NFC playoff picture. It’s positive that this matchup will be in Los Angeles.

Sure, it would be nice if the Rams wrapped up the division by this point and could sit starters. Yes, it would be ironic that the Rams rested players against the Seahawks and 49ers the last two years ahead of the playoffs only to play a regular season finale that matters against the measly Cardinals—but I’m here for it. Don’t be shocked in January when this is the case.