Who has the hardest schedule in the NFC West?

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 09: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers and head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams shake hands after Los Angeles' 42-26 win at Levi's Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In theory the Seattle Seahawks should have the hardest schedule in the NFC West next year because they won the division, but the L.A. Rams might have it harder than anybody.

Rams give up a home game

The Rams are the team giving up a home game in 2026, hosting the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. Yes the 49ers always have a large showing at SoFi Stadium but in Melbourne the Rams literally have no advantage.

Rams 3-game differences

As the second place team, the Rams have the following opponents different than the rest of the NFC West:

• vs. Buffalo Bills
• vs. Green Bay Packers
• at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bills definitely seem like they will be the best team in the AFC East next season. The Packers have a really good shot to upend the Bears in the NFC North-although in my opinion the team to beat in the NFC North, by far, is the Detroit Lions.

The Bucs are probably the favorites to win the NFC South.

Despite a second place schedule, the Rams might play three division winners.

That means that the other teams play:

• Seahawks: Patriots, Bears, Panthers
• 49ers: Dolphins, Vikings, Falcons
• Cardinals: Jets, Lions, Saints

You could definitely make the argument that the Rams have the hardest three-game slate out of the NFC West.

Rams away games

Outside of the NFC West, the Rams play these away games:

• At Eagles
• At Commanders
• At Broncos
• At Raiders
• At Bucs

The Seahawks play almost the exact same away schedule, except the Panthers instead of the Bucs.

The 49ers away games include the Giants, Falcons, Chargers, Chiefs, and Cowboys. Assuming the Chiefs bounce back, there's one tough game on that schedule. If they don't, that's a pretty doable away schedule for the Niners.

Do the Rams have the hardest NFC West schedule?

By these measures, absolutely.

We have to wait and see how good/bad these teams actually are in 2026 and we can't make too many assumptions about that this early in the offseason. But with a home" game in Melbourne against a division rival and a second place schedule that sort of looks like a first place schedule and road games against two tough division winners, the Rams will have their work cut out for them next season.