If you were watching the rams football schedule 2025 unfold, you probably noticed something weird. Most people saw a 12-5 record and figured it was just another year of Sean McVay being a genius. But honestly? This was one of the most grueling stretches of football this roster has ever survived. Between a brutal mid-season international trip and a December that felt like a gauntlet of playoff previews, the road to the 2026 postseason was anything but easy.
You’ve got to look at the context. This wasn't just about winning games; it was about surviving a schedule that featured five different 2024 playoff teams and a cross-continental flight that could've easily derailed their momentum.
The Week 1 statement and the early road tests
The season kicked off at SoFi Stadium on September 7, 2025, against C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. It wasn't the high-flying shootout everyone expected. Instead, the Rams ground out a 14-9 win. It was ugly. It was physical. But it set the tone for a defense that spent most of the year outperforming its "total defense" ranking (which sat around 17th in the league by season's end).
Then came the road. A Week 2 trip to Nashville resulted in a comfortable 33-19 win over the Titans, but the wheels hit a slight snag in Week 3. Philadelphia is never an easy place to play. The Rams dropped that one 33-26 to the Eagles, marking their first real "reality check" of the 2025 campaign.
The ebb and flow of an NFL season is funny. One week you’re questioning the secondary, the next you’re watching them stifle Anthony Richardson and the Colts in a 27-20 Week 4 victory back in Inglewood.
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The London bridge and that Week 8 breather
If there’s one part of the rams football schedule 2025 that fans still talk about, it's Week 7. The NFL sent the Rams to London to face the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. Usually, teams struggle with the jet lag, but the Rams looked like they’d lived in London their whole lives. They dismantled Jacksonville 35-7.
What’s interesting is how McVay handled the following week. Usually, teams take their bye after London. The Rams did exactly that in Week 8. That break was massive. It allowed the roster to heal up before the second-half push, and it showed in the results. Coming off the bye, they went on a tear, including a 34-10 win over the Saints and a massive 42-26 divisional revenge win against the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
- Week 9: vs. Saints (W 34-10)
- Week 10: at 49ers (W 42-26)
- Week 11: vs. Seahawks (W 21-19)
- Week 12: vs. Buccaneers (W 34-7)
That four-game winning streak basically punched their ticket. It was the "meat" of the schedule where the Rams' offense, which eventually ranked 1st in the NFL with nearly 395 total yards per game, finally clicked into high gear.
That late-season December slide (and recovery)
Every team hits a wall. For the Rams, that wall was the end of November and the middle of December. It started with a frustrating 31-28 loss in Carolina. Then, after blowing out the Cardinals 45-17, they survived a 41-34 shootout against the Detroit Lions in Week 15.
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The real fatigue showed in Week 16 and 17.
A Thursday night heartbreaker in Seattle (38-37 in OT) followed by a Monday night loss in Atlanta (27-24) had people panicking.
Basically, the Rams lost two games in 11 days by a combined four points.
Is it a concern? Not really. It was more about the scheduling gods being unkind with short weeks and cross-country travel. They finished the regular season strong by beating the Cardinals again, 37-20, to solidify that 12-5 record and prepare for the Wild Card round.
Why the strength of schedule numbers were lying
Going into the year, Sharp Football Analysis and other outlets had the Rams' strength of schedule ranked around 17th or 20th. On paper, that looks mid-tier. In reality, playing in the NFC West means you’re guaranteed four games against the 49ers and Seahawks, both of whom were absolute powerhouses in 2025.
The "improvement rank" for the Rams was huge—they faced a much tougher path than their 2024 season.
They had to play the Ravens on the road (a 17-3 defensive masterclass in Week 6) and the Lions at home.
When you look at the rams football schedule 2025, you see a team that played up to its competition. They didn't just beat the bad teams; they actually performed better against the elite ones.
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Practical takeaways for the postseason
As the Rams move into the 2026 playoffs—specifically that Divisional Round matchup against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field—the regular season schedule serves as the blueprint.
First, the offense is the engine. Ranking 1st in total yards is great, but the December losses showed that ball security in high-pressure road environments is the only thing that can stop them. Second, don't sleep on the defense. They might allow yards, but their performance in Baltimore and London proved they can travel.
If you're following the team into the postseason, keep an eye on the injury report for the offensive line. The schedule was long, and the late-season overtime game in Seattle took a toll. The Rams have the talent to win it all, but as we saw throughout the 2025 season, their biggest opponent is often the fatigue of the road.
Now that the regular season is wrapped, the focus shifts entirely to the "second season." The Rams have already proven they can handle the travel and the primetime pressure. Now they just need to do it three more times.
Key Insights for Rams Fans:
- Betting on the Over: The Rams' Vegas win total was set at 9.5; they cleared that easily with 12 wins.
- Primetime Performance: Despite late-season stumbles on TNF and MNF, the Rams remained one of the most efficient offenses in night games.
- Travel Factor: The team logged significant miles including London and multiple East Coast trips, which should make the trip to Chicago feel like a breeze.
The regular season is over, but the data from these 18 weeks tells us this is a team built for January. Keep an eye on how the Rams handle the cold at Soldier Field—it’s the one thing the 2025 schedule didn't fully prepare them for.