The LA Rams Will Play 2018 Home Game In China

The Los Angeles Rams will play the first ever NFL regular season game in China in 2018:

There will be a 2018 game in China with the Los Angeles Rams as the home team.

— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) March 23, 2016

The game will be the third the Rams will play overseas as part of their three-year participation in the NFL International Series starting in 2016 with a game in London. That upcoming game in London will be the first ever NFL game ever played at Twickenham Stadium, the primary home of England's National Rugby Team.

The list of potential opponents in 2018 isn't short:

Teams potentially facing Rams in China in 2018: Green Bay, Minnesota, Kansas City, San Diego, Seattle, Arizona, #49ers & TBD NFC East team.

— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 23, 2016

Of course, this news needs to come with an asterisk as the Rams previously agreed to a three-year spot in the international series from 2012-2014 though they would ultimately only play the 2012 game overseas, a 7-45 blowout at the hands of the New England Patriots in Week 8.

The decision to sacrifice three home games over the next three seasons only further reinforces that the Rams don't prioritize winning to the extent that other NFL teams do. Wins and losses do not impact the franchise's direction as much as its peers. It's why Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher is reportedly in talks to get a contract extension despite not posting a winning record in four years. It's why the Rams are comfortable saying that Case Keenum will be the starting QB in Week 1 of the 2016 season whether it's true or not. That doesn't mean the Rams can't get to a winning record in 2016. It just means the pressure to do so is lower than it would be for any other franchise in this situation.

Then again, no other franchise is in this situation...