Rams 2026 schedule: What is the ideal game after Australia vs 49ers?

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 31: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams looks on prior to a game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 31, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images Neither the Los Angeles Rams nor the San Francisco 49ers are happy about the fact that they have to play a game in Australia next season, with Kyle Shanahan even saying that the Rams made sure to drag them through the mud with them after the International schedule was announced. Check out the Rams own website announcing their 2026 opponents and the conspicuous absence of the 49ers on their home slate , with only the message “Our home game against the 49ers will be played in Melbourne” as a footnote: So if the Rams have been screwed by the NFL in Week 1, what’s the best favor that the league could do for L.

A. in Week 2? Who is the ideal Week 2 opponent?

Not these games The stakes have to be lower than playing the 49ers, so no division games: Seahawks (home or away) Cardinals (home or away) 49ers (away) Obviously it won’t be the 49ers. It would also be fair to rule out good teams in the NFC: Eagles (away) Bucs (away) Packers (home) And why not teams that could be good in the NFC: Cowboys (home) Commanders (away) The Rams might end up taking a loss in the division and the conference, games that are more important for playoff tiebreakers than opponents in the AFC. However, it would still be unfair to make the Rams face a Super Bowl contender from the other conference the week after returning to America.

So no good teams in the AFC : Bills (home) Chiefs (home) Chargers (home) Broncos (away) This only leaves two games on the Rams 2026 schedule to choose from… New York Giants at home or Las Vegas Raiders on the road Which game would be the best Week 2 opponent to give the Rams a fair break after sacrificing a home game to the Aussies? It’s not so clear. Giants at home There is nothing on the SoFi Stadium schedule for the weekend of September 20th (when Week 2 is) so we can assume that the NFL and the arena is already assuming that the Rams could be using it.