Now that the Rams’ 2026 schedule has been formally introduced, senior employees author Stu Jackson ranks the highest 5 video games for Los Angeles this upcoming season.
The Giants bought probably the most distinguished title obtainable on this 12 months’s head coach hiring cycle in John Harbaugh, whom the Ravens parted methods with on January 6 after 18 seasons. Between his arrival, the primary full season of the offense being led by quarterback and 2025 offensive rookie of the 12 months finalist Jaxson Dart, New York makes for one of many NFL’s most compelling and fascinating groups getting into the 2026 season.
Though the Giants traded one of many league’s finest defensive tackles in Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals, they nonetheless boast one of many league’s high edge teams between Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter.
When these two groups beforehand met in primetime in Los Angeles, it produced probably the most explosive and high-scoring video games in NFL historical past. Whereas the personnel on every roster has turned over fairly a bit since – to not point out, the groups additionally confronted one another in Kansas Metropolis again in 2022 – a stage that includes two of the league’s most inventive play-calling head coaches in Andy Reid and Sean McVay is at all times a must-watch, particularly with elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Matthew Stafford squaring off, each of which have turn into synonymous with no-look passes.
Inexperienced Bay carries over continuity offensively between play-caller (head coach Matt LaFleur signed a contract extension in January) and personnel (quarterback Jordan Love, operating again Josh Jacobs, and huge receivers Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, and Matthew Golden). Receiver presents probably the most intrigue, between retaining Reed, Watson’s potential, and the chance a much bigger function for Golden following the departures of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks this offseason.
Defensively, that unit can be led by All-Professional edge Micah Parsons, who’s coming off a season-ending torn ACL sustained in Week 15 final 12 months, and a brand new coordinator in former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon. The Packers’ particular groups additionally has new management, with Cam Achord taking on for Wealthy Bisaccia, who stepped down in mid-February and went to Clemson to turn into its particular groups coordinator.
The Rams final confronted the Payments through the 2024 season, wherein Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen gained NFL MVP. Thus, this recreation will characteristic every of he league’s final two MVPs in primetime after Stafford took house the primary of his profession final 12 months.
Did I point out each groups mix for 86 factors and 902 whole yards of offense in a 44-42 Rams win in that December 8 matchup at SoFi Stadium?
The Payments additionally start their first season beneath new management after parting methods with longtime head coach Sean McDermott, who held the function since 2017, and changing him by selling offensive coordinator Joe Brady.
1) Week 16 at Seahawks, Dec. 25 (5:15 p.m. PT, FOX)
This recreation in some methods is harking back to final 12 months’s Week 3 street recreation towards the Eagles. Just like Philadelphia’s 2024 Tremendous Bowl LIX-winning playoff run, Los Angeles arguably gave Seattle its best recreation on its path to profitable Tremendous Bowl LX in final 12 months’s playoffs. This recreation additionally possible was a consider the way in which the Rams approached free company this 12 months.
These divisional rivals will not meet till late December, however historical past tells us playoff and division implications can be at stake after they meet.