NFL is expected to expand the regular season schedule this week to 17 games. The league had played a 16-game regular season schedule since 1978, by far the longest stretch without a change in NFL history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 28, 2021
The NFL is officially moving to a 17-game regular season. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Sunday that the league is expected to announce the change this week, expanding the regular season by one game for each team.
Since 1978, the NFL has had a 16-game regular season, so this is the first change the league has made in more than 40 years.
The Rams will still face each NFC West team twice, and their other 2021 opponents will remain unchanged. They will face each team in the NFC North and AFC South, as well as the Giants and Buccaneers.
Their final opponent will be the Baltimore Ravens, based on the formula and rotation of divisions set for the 17th game. The NFC West will face the AFC North, with similar finishers squaring off. So because the Rams and Ravens both finished second in their respective divisions, they will play in 2021.
Then the divisions will rotate again in 2022, as they traditionally do each year.
The Rams and Ravens met in 2019, a blowout 45-6 win by Baltimore on the road in Los Angeles. The AFC and NFC will rotate home games each year, and in 2021, the AFC is expected to be the host.