Rams 2024 NFL Schedule Released for Stafford, McVay's 1st Year After Donald Retires

The Los Angeles Rams were a pleasant surprise in the 2023 season, going 10-7 and reaching the postseason after a 5-12 year in 2022.

Running back Kyren Williams and rookie wideout Puka Nacua emerged as ascendant young stars, Matt Stafford had a strong year after an injury-plagued 2022 and the Rams gave the Detroit Lions all they could handle in the Wild Card Round before losing 24-23.

Expectations are high heading into this season. Below, we'll take a look at the schedule the team will face as it looks to return to the postseason.

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2024 Rams Schedule

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Analysis

Losing Aaron Donald to retirement was a major loss, no doubt, but the team addressed a number of needs in free agency, signing cornerbacks Tre'Davious White and Darious Williams, safety Kamren Curl, tight end Colby Parkinson and guard Jonah Jackson, alongside re-signing guard Kevin Dotson.

There were free-agent losses as well, but alongside the draft selections of players like defensive end Jared Verse, defensive tackle Braden Fiske, running back Blake Corum and safety Kamren Kinchens, among others, the Rams feel like an improved bunch heading into 2024.

They'll need it against a schedule that features seven games against teams that reached the postseason a year ago.

Still, this a manageable collection of matchups, especially since five of the games against playoff teams from a year ago come at SoFi Stadium.

The Rams should be favored in matchups against the Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and New England Patriots, while teams like the Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets should be tougher opponents than their 2023 records might suggest.

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Pivotal Matchups

The San Francisco 49ers will be the prohibitive favorites to win the NFC West, so if the Rams want to have any chance of claiming the division, they'll need to at least split the season series. No small task, considering the Niners are 9-1 against the Rams dating back to the 2019 season (and last year's win came in Week 18, with both teams already locked into playoff berths and resting a number of key starters).

A rematch against the Lions will also be circled on the calendar. Detroit is one of the NFL's up-and-coming teams and was a 17-point blown lead away from the Super Bowl against San Francisco. The Lions will provide a solid litmus test for the Rams.

Another NFC contender, the Philadelphia Eagles, will provide a similar challenge. Philly's 2023 season ended in disaster, but not before beating the Rams in October. The Eagles had a strong offseason, led by the signing of star running back Saquon Barkley, and should be one of the better offenses and passing games the rebuilt secondary faces.