LA Rams schedule preseason games focusing upon AFC opponents

The LA Rams 2022 NFL schedule is out and even as you read this article, we have a lot of analysis and research happening, trying to highlight the key matchups, the greatest challenges, and the overall risks facing the defending NFL Champions.

But even before we get there, the Rams will be looking to assess players on their roster. As you may recall, the NFL exchanged one preseason game for one regular-season game.  As a result, coaches now have one fewer game to observe and assess younger players competing for a roster spot.

To compensate, the LA Rams have opted to remove all projected starters from preseason game competition, so as to maximize the playing time for players hoping to earn a spot on the active 53-man roster.

Preseason games

Week 1 August 11-15: LA Rams @ LA Chargers

This is a logical preseason game. The LA Chargers are temporary tenants to SoFi Stadium, and as such it just makes sense to hold annual preseason games. Chargers head coach Brandon Staley has loaded up his defense and would love to get one final tune-up by competing against the Rams and head coach Sean McVay before the season opens.

Week 2 August 18-22: Houston Texans @ LA Rams

The Houston Texans will make a solid preseason opponent for the LA Rams, if for no other reason than their entire roster is up for grabs. While the Rams starters handled the Texans easily last year, as soon as the Rams pulled the starters in the final quarter, the Texans roared to life by scoring 22 unanswered points. The Rams will hope for a much stronger showing in this one, even though they will likely be pitting their backups against the Texans’ starters for much of this game.

Week 3 August 25-29: LA Rams @ Cincinnati Bengals

A preseason game rematch of Super Bowl LVI? Yes, that’s just how the LA Rams roll. While there is no official report of any other scrimmages, the Rams and Bengals will conduct joint practices and scrimmages to get the starters up to speed. It remains to be seen whether the Bengals will play their starters in this one. We know that the Rams will not.