Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams: Predicting all 8 home games in 2017

Published Oct. 4, 2017 1:49 p.m. ET

Adam Slotnick, Derek Snyder/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

After a rough start to their first season in LA, we take a look at how the Los Angeles Rams will fare at home this upcoming season.

The Los Angeles Rams are looking to get back to playing competitive football and that starts by playing good football in front of the home fans. No great football team ever struggles to pick-victories in their own building.

That being said, the Rams were only able to get one win at home last season against the Seattle Seahawks 9-3. Thus, if they want to get better, they must start winning games in Los Angeles first.

The good news is that if Los Angeles wants to turn things around, then they will have eight great opportunities to do so this season.

While I don't believe that the Rams have a great chance of making a Wild Card run in 2017, they do have a solid chance of improving their four-win total from 2016 to seven or eight this season. However, that won't happen without major improvement from quarterback Jared Goff.

Who knows, maybe Los Angeles will surprise us all this year and make an unprecedented playoff run. Let's take a look at how the Rams might fare in their eight home games of 2017.

Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Sept. 10: vs. Indianapolis Colts

The season-opener for the Los Angeles Rams will come against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in week one. The Colts finished with an 8-8 record in 2016 and will be looking to get back to the postseason in 2017. On paper, this looks like a clear advantage for the Colts and I clearly expect this game to end in Indianapolis' favor.

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That being said, a loss in week one doesn't mean that everything for the Rams is going haywire. It will just be too early in the season for the Rams defense to be able to handle a very solid Colts offense. Los Angeles will eventually be able to handle a Colts-like offense, but it won't happen the first week of the season.

Sept. 17: vs. Washington Redskins

The Redskins had a very disappointing ending to their 2016 season, which concluded with a weird scenario of Kirk Cousins staying with the team. Trade rumors about your starting quarterback never instill much confidence that things are going well, but at least the Redskins still have their guy.

Well, that's assuming they actually want him under center. I guess they would rather bring back Robert Griffin III?

All kidding aside, no matter how it worked itself out, Washington is lucky to have kept Kirk Cousins and it will pay off on Sept. 17 against the Rams.

I don't see Jared Goff finding success by throwing the football against the Redskins and Josh Norman, which means Todd Gurley won't be able to get going either. Chalk up another home loss for the Los Angeles Rams on this day as well.

January 1, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the 49ers 25-23. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 8: vs. Seattle Seahawks

The Los Angeles Rams beat the Seahawks 9-3 at home last season and they will do it again it 2017. Home-field advantage is a real thing in the NFL and it magnifies itself even more whenever a divisional opponent enters the stadium. Rams fans will be out in full-force for this NFC West showdown.

Los Angeles has beaten the Seahawks in front of the home fans for three-straight seasons thanks to great performances from their defense. With Wade Phillips calling the shots, I expect the Rams to slow down Russell Wilson and company yet again.

If you're a Rams fan near LA on Oct. 8, you better be in the stands cheering on Jared Goff to victory.

Oct. 22: vs. Arizona Cardinals

I'm not a huge fan of this matchup for the Rams this season, even though this divisional game will be played at home. Arizona, who had a very mediocre 2016 season, pounded the Rams 44-6 the last time these two teams played in Los Angeles.

This game will largely come down to if the Rams can cover David Johnson in the backfield and in the passing game. If they cannot, this is a sure-fire loss for Los Angeles. Johnson didn't even play in the Cardinals 44-6 win last season and Arizona still won by 38 points.

The only thing going in Los Angeles' favor in this matchup is that divisional games are always unpredictable, especially in the NFC West. Who knows, maybe Jared Goff will finally find his groove against one of the league's most-talented defensive backfields?

Apr 28, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans first round draft pick Deshaun Watson poses with a jersey during a press conference at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Nov. 12: vs. Houston Texans

This could honestly be one of those games that end up with a 12-3 final score. Deshaun Watson will, more than likely, be under center for the Texans and Jared Goff will definitely be behind center for Los Angeles. As you can imagine, I don't see a ton of points being scored in this one.

At this point in the season, this game will feature two teams who will have solid defense fronts, which will make life hard for the young quarterbacks. It's clear that Houston has the more talented offense, but a road game against a tough front seven will definitely slow the Texans attack down.

That being said, I have more faith in the Texans' ability to move the chains in this matchup than the Rams. Who knows, maybe Jared Goff will prove me wrong. Until then, it's a safe bet that the Houston Texans will head to Los Angeles and be victorious.

Nov. 26: vs. New Orleans Saints

Yet again, I do not like this matchup for Los Angeles, especially if Adrian Peterson is still healthy at this point in the year. When you add Drew Brees and the Saints passing attack on top of their improved running game, the Rams will clearly be playing catch-up most of the game. However, let's slow down the engines on this being a total loss for the Rams.

New Orleans has been very susceptible to teams that control the line of scrimmage, not to mention, it's not like Drew Brees is getting more elusive in the backfield. Slow down Adrian Peterson and this game could get interesting.

If there is one game where Rams fans should look forward to an upset, Nov. 26 is the Sunday it could happen. It's going to take a great effort from the defense, but it wouldn't be the first time the Rams surprised us.

Jan 1, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) reacts to his touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz (not pictured) during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Dec. 10: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Just like most of the teams on the Rams' 2017 home schedule, the Eagles had a very average 2016 season. Carson Wentz has shown that he can win win football games in the NFL, but losing seven games in eight weeks in 2016 doesn't instill much confidence.

That being said, I expect Philadelphia to be much better this upcoming season. With the additions of Torrey Smith and Alshon Jeffery, the Eagles quietly have one of the best offensive attacks in football. At this point in the season, this game will mean much more to Philadelphia than it will for Los Angeles.

That doesn't mean the Rams can't sneak up on the Eagles, but a steady dose of Ryan Mathews and Jeffery should be more than enough for Wentz to keep Philly's Wild Card hopes alive.

Dec. 31: vs. San Fransisco 49ers

If there was a team that was worse than Los Angeles last season, it was definitely the San Fransisco 49ers. However, the Niners' only two wins of the season came against the Rams, so it's not like they were much worse.

Just like Los Angeles, the 49ers are trying to rebuild their franchise into something their fans can be proud of again. Newly-hired head coach Kyle Shanahan will be implementing his new system for the bay-area boys and I don't believe it will catch on in his first season. Heck, it even took 2016 MVP quarterback Matt Ryan two years to figure out everything that went into that offensive scheme.

If you're a Rams fan, you should be saving your money now to catch your favorite team knocking off another division-rival just before the New Year. That's right, look for the Rams to run all over the Niners in this match-up.