With a new quarterback, a $5 billion stadium that will host fans for the first time and a dominant defense, the Los Angeles Rams were always going to be a big draw for prime-time games early in the 2021 season. And they won’t have to wait at all to play their first game in front of a national TV audience.
The Rams will host the Chicago Bears on NBC’s Sunday Night Football in Week 1. It’s the second straight year the Rams will open the season at home on Sunday night, as they beat the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener last year – the first game ever played at SoFi Stadium.
This is an interesting choice by the NFL. The Bears drafted Justin Fields 11th overall but in order for him to start at quarterback, he’ll first have to beat out Andy Dalton. If Dalton wins that battle, he’s not exactly a huge draw for ratings, certainly not as intriguing as a rookie like Fields.
Week 1. Sunday Night Football. @SoFiStadium.
Join us under the lights! » https://t.co/t0L3FXpeU7 pic.twitter.com/VsKmFl8dqw
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 12, 2021
The Bears completely shut down the Rams in 2019, winning 17-7 at home. But the Rams returned the favor at SoFi Stadium last season, winning the rematch 24-10.
Matthew Stafford’s first game as a Ram will be against a team he’s very familiar with, too, having faced the Bears 20 times in his career. He’s 11-9 against them, with 32 touchdown passes and 23 interceptions.