The Rams are about to jet set to Melbourne in the upcoming days.
With the Australian season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night (Friday morning in Melbourne), here’s a look at the 2026 schedule and some predictions for how the year will go as the the Rams try to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2022 (all times PT):
Sept. 10: San Francisco 49ers, 5:35 p.m., Melbourne Cricket Ground
The unknown. The Rams are taking a completely different approach to the 49ers when they’ve arrived in Australia. San Francisco will have spent nearly an entire week on the other side of the world. The Rams will be in and out of Australia in a jiffy. Coach Sean McVay has shown a knack for international travel – enough to give his team the edge in Week 1.
Prediction: Win, 1-0.
Sept. 21: New York Giants, 5:15 p.m., SoFi Stadium
John Harbaugh is running a new-look operation with the Giants, led by quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo. But the Rams should be able to handle the NFC darkhorse squad with relative ease in what could be Aaron Donald’s return game in L.A.
Prediction: Win, 2-0.
Sept. 27: Denver Broncos, 5:20 p.m., Mile High Stadium
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula will have a task: Break down the Broncos’ top-of-the-line offensive line in a short week. Donald and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett now lead the Rams’ front seven in what should be the first real test for the new-look Rams defense. This will be a test – a tough one – but I still give the Rams a slight advantage.
Prediction: Win, 3-0.
Oct 4: Philadelphia Eagles, 10 a.m., Lincoln Financial Field
Talk about an NFC championship contender clash. Going on the road after weeks of bright spots will see the first slip-up of the season, of an unlikely few, for the Rams.
Prediction: Loss, 3-1.
Oct. 12: Buffalo Bills, 5:15 p.m., SoFi Stadium
Reigning MVP vs. the betting-favorite. Josh Allen has emerged across the past decade as one of the best quarterbacks in the league, adding wide receiver DJ Moore as a weapon during the offseason. Matthew Stafford still has weapons Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, however, among his elite plethora of offensive options – and will handle the Bills at home.
Prediction: Win, 4-1.
Oct. 18: Arizona Cardinals, 1:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium
The Cardinals are going to be bad – maybe even the worst in the league. This won’t be close.
Prediction: Win. 5-1
Oct. 25: Las Vegas Raiders, 1:25 p.m., Allegiant Stadium
Pete Carroll’s experiment in Las Vegas did not work. It’s new head coach Klint Kubiak’s turn to try to build a contender. No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza may have taken over the starting quarterback reins from Kirk Cousins by now, but the Raiders sill don’t have enough firepower to match the Rams.
Prediction: Win, 6-1
Nov. 1: Chargers, 1:05 p.m., SoFi Stadium
Offensive woes threw a hard-to-overcome wrench on the Chargers last year. The injury woes have already bitten again in 2026. Expect the Rams to exploit a rookie center.
Prediction: Win, 7-1
Nov. 8: Washington Commanders, 10 a.m., Northwest Stadium
Jayden Daniels has shown himself to have flashes of elite talent behind center – using his legs in a dynamic fashion. However, the Commanders lack the true depth and consistency across the roster to shock the Rams in Week 9.
Prediction: Win, 8-1
Nov. 15: Arizona Cardinals, 1:05 p.m., State Farm Stadium
The Rams were always going to win – and be expected to win – a lot of games this season. But the pair of Cardinals games are as easy as the season will get for McVay’s squad.
Prediction: Win, 9-1
Nov. 22: BYE WEEK
Nov. 25: Green Bay Packers, 5 p.m., SoFi Stadium
Entering their hardest stretch of the season – on an awkward Wednesday night before Thanksgiving game on Netflix – off a bye week seems like a trap. Jordan Love has improved steadily under coach Matt LaFleur, while emerging as a true NFC title contender for the first time since Aaron Rodgers left the franchise following the 2022 season.
Prediction: Loss, 9-2
Dec. 3: Kansas City Chiefs, 5:15 p.m., Arrowhead Stadium
By December, the league will know for certain if Patrick Mahomes returned to best-in-the-league form from his torn ACL that occurred almost one year ago from their game against the Rams. However Mahomes is playing Dec. 3, I see this game as a bounce-back game for the Rams after a disappointing defeat the week prior.
Prediction: Win, 10-2
Dec. 12: San Francisco 49ers, 1:25 p.m., Levi’s Stadium
The Rams and 49ers should be jostling for pole position in the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks. Whereas the Rams took the game in Melbourne – this is the 49ers’ to grab back in Santa Clara.
Prediction: Loss, 10-3
Dec. 20: Dallas Cowboys 1:25 p.m., SoFi Stadium
During their joint practice a few weeks ago, the Cowboys looked improved compared to a year ago – especially when it comes to their defense – but the struggles against Stafford and Adams remained. Nacua left that practice early. It may still be too much for Dallas to overcome.
Prediction: Win, 11-3
Dec. 25: Seattle Seahawks, 5:15 p.m., Lumen Field
Christmas football will put a gift under the tree for Rams fans as they should be in position by this point to have clinched or about to clinch a spot in the postseason – avenging sour memories from the NFC Championship game last season.
Prediction: Win, 12-3.
Week 17: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, time/date TBD, Raymond James Stadium
Rookie Rueben Bain Jr. appears to be the real deal in the pass rush and the Buccaneers have plenty to be excited about with Baker Mayfield still leading the offense. This one could be a sneaky-good battle on the road for the Rams.
Prediction: Win, 13-3.
Week 18: Seattle Seahawks, time/date TBD, SoFi Stadium
The Rams rest their starters – as McVay has done entering the postseason time and time again – and drop the finale to the Seahawks.
Prediction: Loss, 13-4