It’s time.

With the Los Angeles Rams set to begin the 2018 regular season, the TST staff got together to drop their season predictions. I dropped my individual projections back in April after the schedule was released, and Wags dropped his a few weeks back.

Well now it’s time for all of us to go on the record.

Just like last year, a note on the predictions: go rams’ predictions aren’t included in the individual predictions. The Professor yet again predicted the Rams to go 16-0 because he is our wonderful old buffoonfather. His predictions are not included until the final compilation for mathematical accuracy.

Week 1 – @ Oakland Raiders

Consensus: 15-0

I had this as a loss in my initial projections. And a week ago at this time, I still would have had it as a loss! But the Raiders traded their best player by far and one who could have had given the Rams fits especially given how unusual Head Coach Sean McVay’s decision was to sit the entire starting offense throughout the preseason.

I don’t like the feeling of a consensus pick here. At all. There’s a sense of an assumption here that I hope ends at the edge of the fan base before it gets into the locker room. The Rams don’t win this game just by showing up. They’re going to have to earn it. And doing so would be the perfect way to start the season.

Week 2 – v. Arizona Cardinals

Consensus: 15-0

I think the Cardinals might be the most underrated team in the NFL this year. Still, they’ve got a lot to figure out under first-year Head Coach Steve Wilks. Opening the season at home with the next weekend’s #FightforLA looming, the home opener should be one for the Rams to come ready.

Week 3 – v. Los Angeles Chargers

Consensus: 12-3

Not a lot of respect for our cross-town brethren, especially in a season that many consider the Chargers to be serious contenders in the AFC.

Week 4 – v. Minnesota Vikings

Consensus: 5-10

Not a lot of faith here to redeem ourselves from last year’s 7-24 loss in Week 11.

The set up here is fascinating. If the Rams are 3-0, it’ll make for huge viewing on Thursday Night Football. The Vikings similarly could be in the same position if they can get through a Week 2 trip to face the Green Bay Packers.

Week 5 – @ Seattle Seahawks

Consensus: 15-0

I was shocked to see us in full unanimity here. The Rams played the Seahawks in Week 5 last year as well. Didn’t go so well…

At this point, injuries could be playing a factor. The Seahawks could also well be 4-0 heading into this one while The Rams are also coming off of two very strong challenges kicking off a three-game road trip.

This one’s pivotal.

Week 6 – @ Denver Broncos

Consensus: 14-1

STRONG trap game candidate here. One of the weaker teams on the Rams’ schedule in the midst of a three-game road swing with the big rivalry game coming on Sunday Night Football a week later…

This one worries me.

Week 7 – @ San Francisco 49ers

Consensus: 13-2

I just want to see DL Aaron Donald sack 49ers QB Glitzy Hoppingjohn.

Week 8 – v. Green Bay Packers

Consensus: 7-8

What a brutal schedule. It’s really just the brutality of the NFC playing itself out, but the Rams come home off a three-game road stretch to come home to play Packers QB Aaron Rodgers just to hit the road again to face another one of the NFC’s best in the only home game on the calendar between September 28 and November 10?

Yeesh.

Of course after we get past this one, we’re at the halfpole. We’ll have a better sense of which of the major contenders in the NFC are playing up to par and who’s struggling. We’ll have a sense of trajectory. And of course, we’ll have injuries around the league to consider.

And then, we head into the second half…

Week 9 – @ New Orleans Saints

Consensus: 6-9

What a crucial one this is for both teams. While our schedule looks packed, the positioning of this game for New Orleans is equally uncomfortable. The Saints go to Baltimore and Minnesota before facing us in the Superdome to get back on the road again against Cincinnati.

Week 10 – v. Seattle Seahawks

Consensus: 15-0

Just no love from the staff for Seattle this year. Between the two games (which close out unusually early this year), it’s a combined 30-0.

Week 11 – v.* Kansas City Chiefs

* – This game will be played in Mexico City.

Consensus: 13-2

Just two takers for new Chiefs QB Pat Mahomes and crew here which seems awfully low.

The key here is timing. The Rams get an extra day of recuperation with this one slated for Monday Night Football in the DF. Afterward, they get a well-deserved, late bye week. And afterward, it’s the postseason push.

So this one stands out quite noticeably. Gameday menu planning will be key here.

Week 12 – bye week

Week 13 – @ Detroit Lions

Consensus: 14-1

There’s a strange dichotomy here with the importance of the five-game, post-bye stretch contrasted against the fact that it’s the softest run of the schedule starting with a trip to Michigan. While we come out of a bye here, they’re closing a three-game homestand.

Week 14 – @ Chicago Bears

Consensus: 13-2

If the Khalil Mack trade should affect Week 1 prognostications (hint: it should), then it should affect things here as well (hint: it should).

There’s a building narrative that the 2018 Chicago Bears will take the torch from the 2017 LA Rams as the NFC’s Turnaround Team. Offensively-minded head coach in his first year taking over a team with a maligned quarterback heading into Year 2 with a defense anchored by one of the league’s best up front…

Well, we’ll know by this point how much that narrative fits.

Week 15 – v. Philadelphia Eagles

Consensus: 7-8

Yeah, aint nobody gonna watch this.

Week 16 – @ Arizona Cardinals

Consensus: 15-0

Fascinating game.

A year ago, it was a trip to Seattle for the Rams to lock up the NFC West. This year, it could be this division rival road game that could ice it. Also, what are the chances that Arizona is playing the same quarterback here as they will be in Week 2 with former Rams franchise QB Sam Bradford leading Arizona into the season with rookie first-round pick QB Josh Rosen in the waiting? (Calm the hell down, Mike Glennon fans) (Are there Mike Glennon fans?)

Week 17 – v. San Francisco 49ers

Consensus: 7-8

It’s too far out to make any sincere declarations, but the setup is obvious…

If the Rams have already locked in a playoff spot perhaps even home field advantage let alone a first-round bye…do the Rams sit their starters again?

Last year, the Rams wisely did so against the Niners in Week 17, but losing that game and, more importantly, losing the wild card playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons motivated some fans to question the decision.

Will McVay turn on himself? Will he stick to his inclinations? Will 49ers QB Gypsy Uhnonono still enjoy the support he does from San Fran fans?

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Final tally:

• 10-6: 1 (Elijah Kim)
• 11-5: 2 (Charlie Hiller, misone)
• 12-4: 3 (3k, Michael Frank, Tevin Broner)
• 13-3: 8 (Brandon Bate, EddieP, hotdaddywags, joeyaucoin, kristianramirez, Sean Wilkinson, Skye Sverdlin, Sosa Kremenjas)
• 14-2: 1 (seattlerams)

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With such high expectations and deservingly so given the state of the starting roster and the coaching staff, there’s clear support here for a return to the playoffs.

I think the question may be the keypoints in the schedule. What is the difference between an 8-8 season and a 12-4 season? Many books are setting the over under at 9.5 or 10. None of us are taking the under here, but it’s worth considering what could cause it and when.

Injuries, sure. But could a bad game or two unseat things the way the early losses to Washington and Seattle didn’t a year ago?

There are risks all over the schedule given the requirement to play last year’s divisional champs. Throw in potential trap games, and things could swing at nearly any point.

But 2017 happened. And this offseason happened. And it certainly seems where things stand that the Rams are in position to deliver on those expectations at least as far as the regular season is concerned for the TST staff.

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