The NFL releases the 2014 regular season schedule at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday night. Even though the schedule release is only a mid-tier NFL event -- still better than the Pro Bowl -- it naturally gets the primetime treatment on the NFL Network and ESPN2, aka "The Deuce."
Of course, we already know which teams the Rams will play, on the road and in the empty confines of the Edward Jones Dome. There's the home/away series with fellow NFC West opponents, games against the NFC East and the AFC West (for all NFC West teams), and dates with the fourth place finishers in the NFC South and NFC North.
Home: Arizona Cardinals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks
Away: Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins
The only question now is when the Rams will play those teams. They're guaranteed at least one primetime game, thanks to the NFL's Thursday Night Football charitable initiative. Will they land a Monday night game after laying an egg against the 49ers last year? And is there a chance of a Sunday night game?
That's not an easy schedule, by virtue of playing in the NFC West for starters. The Rams have the third most difficult schedule this season, based on an opponent win percentage of .564. They also happen to play both the NFC and AFC Champions. Remember that strength of schedule numbers don't mean in April much because of the offseason turnover, injuries, etc.