Sideways glance at Rams 2025 opponents proves schedule is not something to fear

The Los Angeles Rams will learn when they play their 2025 opponents this week, as the NFL schedule is due for release on May 14. When the Rams' schedule is finally made official, fans can begin to pick and choose which games make the most sense to attend and cheer on the team in person. It also creates opportunities for all NFL fans to glance at rival NFL teams and applaud or disparage the difficulty or simplicity of other teams' schedules.

Rams fans are incentivized to cheer for all Atlanta Falcons' opponents this year. For every game that appears in the Falcons' loss column, the Round 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft traded by the Falcons to the Rams becomes that much more valuable.

And it's becoming more and more probable that the Rams will be shopping for a rookie quarterback to take the baton from veteran QB Matthew Stafford in the 2026 NFL Draft. Still, there is a 2025 NFL season to face, and as the NFC West Division Winner, the Rams will get the league's best queued up as opponents this year.

But how scary is the schedule, even before we check the boxes of when and where those games will be played?

Can that be right? Can the Rams have the 17th-ranked strength of schedule in 2025? Let's examine how that can be, and if there are any wrinkles in the calculation.

NFC West Division Opponents

The NFC West Division has been a battle ground for years between Rams HC Sean McVay and San Francisco 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan. Whichever team struggles, the Seattle Seahawks have been opportunistic enough to slide into the mix.

Arizona Cardinals X 2 (8-9)

The Arizona Cardinals finished 2024 with a record of 8-9. But they are a team that has made subtle but impressive moves in the offseason. The Cardinals picked up defensive lineman Josh Sweat and drafted rookie DT Walter Nolan to join him. While that can help their defense, the Cardinals invested little into the offense. Is that a winning strategy? I can't see the Cardinals doing much better in 2025.

Seattle Seahawks X 2 (10-7)

The Seattle Seahawks pushed the Rams to Week 16, and ultimately ended the season with the same 10-7 record. But this is a Seahawks team that shed QB Geno Smith and WRs Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. Instead, they are going with former Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold and former Rams WR Cooper Kupp. The Seahawks draft was a bit underwhelming for 2025, but they did add speedy QB Jalen Milroe to learn behind Darnold. New QB though? Hate to say it for Kupp's new team, but they will struggle to break .500 this year too.

San Francisco 49ers X 2 (6-11)

Finishing 6-11 in 2024, the San Francisco 49ers win the easiest schedule in the NFC West and the easiest schedule in the NFL. But is that enough to rebound? This is a team whose offense has QB Brock Purdy, WRs Demarcus Robinson, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall, and RB Christian McCaffrey. But it is a defense attempting a soft reboot (think of the Rams in 2023), and I'm just not a believer that will make everything AOK in 2025. The 49ers are going to win more games, but I put their ceiling for victories at nine wins.