A few weeks back, the NFL released their 2018 schedules. And with last week’s 2018 NFL Draft now in the rearview, we can look toward what the future will hold for all of its teams.

For the Los Angeles Rams who are coming off a historical bounceback season, the future looks bright. After ditching Jeff Fisher & Co. at the end of the 2016 season, new Head Coach Sean McVay and his staff took the Rams to an 11-5 record and earned themselves the NFC West crown.

One would think McVay’s Rams should build upon their success(es) in the upcoming year, right? Having made a cornucopia of splashy offseason moves, it appears as though there’s truth to the Rams going “all in” in 2018.

How does the Turf Show Times staff see the 2018 season shaking out? Here are their game-by-game predictions.

Week 1 – at Oakland Raiders

Consensus: 9-1

Hey look, it’s too negative guy! The rest of the squad isn’t buying the Jon Gruden hype to kick off the 2018 season, and sees the Rams taking care of business on Monday night in Week 1.

Week 2 – vs. Arizona Cardinals

Consensus: 10-0

Spoiler alert! You won’t be seeing any L’s from the staff in Week 16 either. If there’s any team in the NFC West the Rams should be sweeping, it’s this one. But hey, maybe Cardinals QB Sam Bradford stays healthy and turns things around for the Cardi…I can’t do it.

Week 3 – vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Consensus: 10-0

Fight for LA! The Chargers will be heading back from Buffalo in Week 2 after a home game in Week 1. That’s quite a bit of travel to kick off the year. The TST staff are banking that plane drain means the Chargers won’t be putting up much of a fight in Week 3.

Week 4 – vs. Minnesota Vikings

Consensus: 2-8

If the staff sees the Rams definitely taking an L in any game this season, it’s this week 4 home matchup against Minnesota. The Vikings – who were the only team to keep the Rams from scoring double-digit points in 2017 – certainly didn’t get any worse in the offseason. McVay reunites with his former pal Kirk Cousins. If the NFL wanted better games on Thursday night… this is about as good as it gets.

Week 5 – at Seattle Seahawks

Consensus: 9-1

The last time the Rams played in Seattle, they dismantled the Seahawks by a score of 42-7. There’s been a crazy amount of turnover in Seattle this offseason, and it’s fair to say they’ve lost more talent than they’ve acquired. All but one of the TST staff think another rout could be in store.

Week 6 – at Denver Broncos

Consensus: 9-1

Trap game? Bmule thinks it could be. The Broncos struggled offensively last year, but they’re giving Vance Joseph (at least some part of) 2018 to right the ship. We’ll see if Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips and CB Aqib Talib can do enough to slow down their former team now that QB Case Keenum is at the helm.

Week 7 – at San Francisco 49ers

Consensus: 8-2

Here’s one everyone is anticipating — a Sunday night-er in San Fran. By this time next year, 49ers fans have assured me that Janeane Garofalo will still be undefeated as a starting QB. I mean, the Rams could barely beat the 9ers with QB Brian Hoyer, right?! It’ll be interesting to see what Jeremy Orangello can do against the Rams starting defense in Week 7.

Week 8 – vs. Green Bay Packers

Consensus: 5-5

The Week 8 matchup against the Packers is the only game on the slate where the TST staff is torn. QB Aaron Rodgers is back, and that’s enough to make them competitive in any game. The Packers struggled on defense in 2017, but looked to have addressed their opportunity areas well in the offseason. This is going to be another tough matchup – albeit at home – for the Rams.

Week 9 – at New Orleans Saints

Consensus: 3-7

It’s safe to say this looks like it could be another L in the results column for the Rams, who don’t travel east of the Rockies until Week 9. But a road trip to New Orleans against a contender for the NFC crown will be anything but easy. The Rams were able to slip past the Saints with a 26-20 victory in LA last season…can they make it back-to-back wins in a road test in 2018?

Week 10 – vs. Seattle Seahawks

Consensus: 8-2

Eli has the Rams getting swept by the Seahawks in 2018. That is all I have to say.

Week 11 – vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Consensus: 10-0

A lot of people think the Kansas City Chiefs are a tough team to beat. But none of those people write for Turf Show Times. CB Marcus Peters catches more passes from Patrick Mahomes than WR Sammy Watkins does in this Monday night contest, as the Rams head into their bye week. Game, blouses.

Week 13 – at Detroit Lions

Consensus: 9-1

The Lions were a team on the cusp of making the wildcard last season, and despite having almost two full weeks to prepare, Rob sees this being a game where the Rams (could) walk away disappointed with the result. It’s an unfamiliar opponent on their home turf…the Lions shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Week 14 – at Chicago Bears

Consensus: 8-2

Chicago in December? Who knows what the weather could be like for that one. Most of the TST squad is chalking this one up as a gimme. But Joe and Mule feel like this could be one of those games where not even poor conditions will stop a poor opponent. We should know well before this game if Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky is legit or not.

Week 15 – vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Consensus: 6-4

In the Rams’ final primetime game of the 2018 NFL season, they’ll host the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, who’ll hope to have a very healthy QB Carson Wentz taking the field. The Eagles were able to make the cross-country trip to LA last season and, despite losing Wentz during that game, were able to keep it together with QB Nick Foles and secure victory. Both of these teams should be vying for first round byes at this point, so this Sunday night-er has “game of the week” written all over it.

Week 16 – at Arizona Cardinals

Consensus: 10-0

Poor Sammy B…

Week 17 – vs. San Francisco 49ers

Consensus: 8-2

The NFL apparently likes it some Rams-49ers in Week 17 action. Sorry Seattle, but you’ve been replaced, and you probably won’t hear any complaints about it from Rams’ faithful in the Pacific Northwest. If the 49ers live up to the hype, this might be a game of significant importance to them. But based on the staff’s projected win-loss results for the Rams, this looks to be another Week 17 where Jammy Garbagelo is trying not to throw two interceptions to CB Kevin Peterson.

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And there you have it. At the top end, The Professor doesn’t see the Rams losing a single game this season. Shocking! And it’s Eli who sees the Rams actually taking a step back in 2018, finishing the season one win shy of their 2017 total (with a 10-6 record). The remaining eight staffers are predicting an 11+-win campaign for the Rams in the upcoming year.

How do you see it shaking out? Let us know your game-by-game predictions in the comments!

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