3 positive takeaways from the LA Rams 2021 NFL schedule

I. A somewhat balanced schedule

Two division rivals in the first half of the season set the stage for a 2021 NFL schedule that appears to be far more balanced in many ways than the Rams 2020 counterpart. Not only do the Rams clear two division rivals out of the way in the first half of the schedule, but the team opens at SoFi Stadium and closes out the season at SoFi Stadium.

The LA Rams host both Florida teams on the schedule (saving that long flight to that state). And although the Rams face nice road games, only two of those games take them to the East Coast, an early trip to the New York Giants, and a late-season trip to face the Baltimore Ravens. Besides the three visits to their division Rivals, the Rams travel to face the Minnesota VIkings, the Green Bay Packers, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Houston Texans.

The Rams also have a pretty good share of tough opponents at SoFi Stadium. Along with the annual compliment of division opponents, the Rams will face the Chicago Bears, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tennessee Titans, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions at SoFi.  While the Jaguars may not strike anyone as dangerous, avoiding that trip to Florida in the midst of the season is a huge plus. And as far as the Lions, the media coverage of that game will be a circus. It’s much better for the Rams to have the home-field advantage in a game that will undoubtedly be dubbed the McVay vs. Goff game.

Then there is the fact that the most grueling road games of this season are conveniently placed after a  mini-BYE or BYE weeks. the only back-to-back games for the Rams without extra time to travel occurs in the last three weeks when the Rams follow up a road trip to Minnesota with a trip to Baltimore before finally returning home to host the 49ers.

Will 2021 be the year for the Rams to return to the Super Bowl, and perhaps even hoist the Lombardi Trophy? Well, nothing about their 2021 NFL schedule guarantees that will happen. Even moreso, nothing from the schedule appears to prevent it from happening. As long as the Rams take care of business, they could find themselves competing for the NFL Championship in front of some very excited LA Rams fans.