After a decade of being one of the least successful teams in the NFL, the Los Angeles Rams turned things around in 2017 and have since become a franchise that fans want to tune in to watch. The roster will look very different than it did in 2018 and 2019, with Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks being the most notable departures, but Los Angeles should still be a team that competes for a playoff berth.
As a result, the Rams should be in prime time a handful of times next season. In 2018, they had five night games, and last season, they topped out at six prime-time matchups. Obviously, a down year in 2019 has caused some of the shine to wear off in L.A., but the opening of SoFi Stadium will bring back whatever luster was lost.
The 2020 schedule will be released on Thursday night and the Rams figure to be in prime time plenty, given their opponents and their brand new stadium. But which games are the likeliest to end up in prime time? Let’s run through the top six candidates.
Rams vs. 49ers
This has a chance to be the opener at SoFi Stadium, and given the way San Francisco played last year, it’s almost sure to be in prime time. The Rams and 49ers have had some entertaining matchups the last few years, too, which makes this game even more intriguing.
There are plenty of storylines involving these teams, as well. Sean McVay vs. Kyle Shanahan. Jared Goff vs. Jimmy Garoppolo. Richard Sherman and Jalen Ramsey. The 49ers’ defensive line compared to the Rams’ front.
It’ll be a huge surprise if at least one of the Rams-49ers games isn’t in prime time, and given the hype surrounding SoFi Stadium’s first year, it should be L.A.’s home game that gets the nod under the lights.