Due to their strong showing last season, the Los Angeles Rams have one of the toughest schedules in 2018. GM Les Snead made the best of it by making up nicknames for each matchup (which is his quirky trademark). There’s a lot of process with this announcement with five aspects that could factor into the success of the 2018 Rams.
For a team that is still in the process of growing their fanbase after a tumultuous move from St. Louis, the Rams have caught a break with their first two home games.
In hosting the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Chargers, two teams that don’t exactly have an intimidating fanbase that travels, the Rams will have an opportunity to pack the Coliseum with Rams fans proving to the city and the NFL that they are a newly-minted first class organization.
It could have been worse. The Rams could have had a home opener against the Philadelphia Eagles or the Green Bay Packers — two teams travel well and just happen to be incredibly competitive. It’s just not a good look at see more fans of the other team in the crowd, especially to start the season. We can’t forget that Los Angeles is about appearances.
The Rams will start off the season in Oakland on Monday night (a team with arguably the largest fanbase in the league next to the Cowboys), then the Rams will come back home to a rockin’ home crowd for three games. The hope is, by the time the Rams make it to Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings at home, their first legitimate challenge of the season, the team will have just enjoyed three dominating wins and the city will be energized with the confidence that the Los Angeles are an elite team.
Let’s just face it: the Rams have a modest fan base right now. If you look at the sales of jerseys, we only have one player, RB Todd Gurley, that made the list at 41.
The NFL season is about momentum and confidence. A lot of factors play into a team’s success, which is why some teams thrive at home (Arrowhead Stadium rings a bell) year after year. As good as the Rams are, the season will still be a dogfight at times, and having the city on our side will only help.
Whose house? The defending NFC West champions house.
Now it’s time to start acting like it.