National Football League

No Seahawks in Week 17, but plenty of other challenges await Rams in 2015

Published Apr. 21, 2015 9:26 p.m. ET

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ST. LOUIS -- For the first time since 2011, the St. Louis Rams will not travel to Seattle to play the defending NFC champion Seahawks in Week 17.

They'll travel to Seattle in the second-to-last game instead. And host the Seahawks in their season opener.

The NFL regular-season schedule for 2015 was released Tuesday evening, and it was revealed that the Rams will get a quick early NFC West test when the Seahawks come to St. Louis on Sept. 13 in the opening weekend of the NFL season. A week later they head to the nation's capital to take on Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins. (Will coach Jeff Fisher troll them again?)

Games 3-5 could prove to be a difficult stretch in the form of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers, with the latter two games on the road. All three opponents made the postseason last year, as did Seattle, which means St. Louis will face four playoff teams from last season in the opening five weeks.

Following a bye in Week 6, the Rams will take on the Cleveland Browns -- and maybe quarterback Johnny Manziel. From there, they'll endure another run of playoff teams in Weeks 11-13 with the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona and the Detroit Lions.

St. Louis closes out the season on the road against division rival San Francisco and new coach Jim Tomsula on Jan. 3.

As it stands now, the Rams do not have any Sunday or Monday night games scheduled. Their lone Thursday night tilt comes in Week 15 against Tampa Bay. The Bucs holds the top slot in next week's draft, which means the Rams' defense may get a look at quarterback Jameis Winston, should he go first overall. Both teams will have played the previous Sunday at home -- St. Louis against the Lions and Tampa against the New Orleans Saints.

"The NFL schedule release is one of the most anticipated days in sports," Fisher said in a club press release. "We are excited about opening our season at home against our NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks. With the start of our offseason program this week, we are beginning our journey to winning our division and making a playoff run."

And, based on the Rams' schedule this season, that run is looking to be a marathon, not a sprint.

You can follow Elisabeth Meinecke on Twitter at @lismeinecke or email her at ecmeinecke@gmail.com.