2018 Schedule announced, Lamarcus Joyner Joyner, Matt Longacre, Troy Hill, Malcolm Brown, Sam Ficken & Rams to Host Chiefs on Monday Night Football in Mexico
The 2018 Schedule was announced late last night East Coast time.
L.A. will open up the preseason on the road in Baltimore, before hosting two back-to-back games at the Coliseum. The Rams will conclude their exhibition series by travelling to New Orleans to face the Saints.
All preseason games may be seen locally on CBS 2 and UniMás 46 and across the Rams Regional TV Network. The game calls may also be heard on ESPN LA 710 AM and the simulcast on 93.1 JACK FM. Tune in to ESPN Deportes 1330 AM for the live Spanish broadcast.
Plus, check online at therams.com for a full listing of Rams Radio Network affiliates in English and Spanish.
RAMS PRESEASON SCHEDULE (*All times are Pacific)
Week 1: Rams @ Ravens | Thursday, August 9 | 4:30 p.m.
Week 2: Rams vs Raiders | Saturday, August 18 | 1 p.m.
Week 3: Rams vs. Texans | Saturday, August 25 | 1 p.m.
Week 4: Rams @ Saints | Thursday, August 30 | 5 p.m.
Sept. 10 at Oakland Raiders, 10:20 p.m. (ESPN)
Sept. 16 vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Sept. 23 vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m. (CBS)
Sept. 27 vs. Minnesota Vikings, 8:20 p.m. (FOX/NFLN)
Oct. 7 at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Oct. 14 at Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Oct. 21 at San Franciso 49ers, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Oct. 28 vs. Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Nov. 4 at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Nov. 11 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Nov. 19 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Mexico City), 8:15 p.m. (ESPN)
Nov. 25 -- BYE
Dec. 2 at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Dec. 9 at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Dec. 16 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Dec. 23 at Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Dec. 30 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
I am making plans to do the Philly game in Los Angeles with some friends, including one of my best friends that happens to live in Arizona. I think I will spend a few days in Los Angeles before going to Phoenix for the remainder of the week (and for my birthday). The Rams play the Cardinals on the 23rd.
Then, I can cruise back home for New Years.
I was also thinking about going to the first Pre-Season game in Baltimore. It is two days before the Phish Merriweather shows. Ideally, I would like to go to the game Thursday night and stay the weekend but I am not sure if I have that in me.
Regardless, the Rams will be featured in five primetime games for the first time in the team’s history, beginning with a Week 1 matchup at the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football, the team announced today in conjunction with the release of their preseason and regular-season schedules.
“This is one of the most exciting times on the NFL calendar for both fans and teams with the start of the offseason program, schedule announcement and the draft,” Rams Head Coach SEAN MCVAY said. “We are looking forward to competing against this group of opponents and making our fans proud as we open with the Oakland Raiders on September 10.”
The Rams will be featured on Sunday Night Football twice this season, first in Week 7 at San Francisco and then again in Week 15 at home vs. the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. This marks the first time that the Rams will play in two Sunday Night Football games in a single season.
Los Angeles will also appear on Monday Night Football a second time in Week 11 for an international home game in Mexico City vs. the Kansas City Chiefs, as was previously announced. The Rams’ single-season high for Monday Night Football appearances is three games. L.A. will kick off FOX’s inaugural Thursday Night Football package, when the team hosts the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4 on Sept. 27.
The Rams will open divisional play in Week 2 at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Last season, L.A. swept the Cardinals, a feat the team last achieved in 2012. The Rams will look to extend their winning streak at University of Phoenix Stadium to four games in their second faceoff against Arizona on Dec. 23.
In Week 3, the Los Angeles Chargers will travel cross-town to the Coliseum. The last time two Los Angeles teams played in the regular season was on Nov. 13, 1994 in a Week 11 matchup between the Rams and Raiders. Since returning to Los Angeles, the Rams and Chargers have only met in preseason action (2017).
L.A. will be on the road for three consecutive weeks beginning with the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5. In 2017, the Rams won their 10th game of the season in a dominating 42-7 road win over Seattle, marking the franchise’s first 10-win season since 2003. In last year’s road contest at CenturyLink, DT Aaron Donald set a new career high for single-game sacks with three, contributing to the team’s overall total of seven. In the ensuing week, L.A. will face off against the Denver Broncos for the first time since 2014. That year, the Rams defeated the reigning AFC champions, 22-7, and held the NFL’s third-ranked offense to one touchdown, ending Peyton Manning’s streak of 15 games with multiple touchdowns. K Greg Zuerlein helped seal the game for the Rams with five field goals, including two of 50-plus yards.
Upon returning to Southern California in Week 8, the Green Bay Packers will visit the Coliseum. During the teams’ last meeting (10/11/15), RB Todd Gurley rushed for a career-high 159 yards to add to his award-winning rookie season. Also in that game, the Rams defense tipped a pass that was intercepted by the franchise’s leading tackler James Laurinaitis, marking Packers QB Aaron Rodgers’ first interception at Lambeau Field since 2012.
For the third time in as many seasons, the Rams will face the New Orleans Saints in regular-season play on Nov. 4 in Week 9. Historically, the Rams have achieved significant offensive milestones against the Saints, including Willie Ellison’s franchise-leading 247 rushing yards in 1971 and Willie “Flipper” Anderson’s NFL record-setting performance of 336 receiving yards in 1989. His total yardage in that game remains an NFL record.
Before the Rams travel to Mexico, the Seahawks will head down the coast to the Coliseum on Nov. 11. Then following the team’s Week 12 bye, Los Angeles will play three of their final five games on the road, including back-to-back games against members of the NFC North (at Detroit-Week 13, at Chicago-Week 14). The Rams will close out the year at home against the San Francisco 49ers, for the second-consecutive season.
Fans interested in tickets should visit TheRams.com/Tickets. For more information, please contact a member of the Rams communications department.
PRIMESPORT, the Official Gameday Experience and Fan Travel Partner of the Los Angeles Rams, has preferred home and away game packages for Rams fans. For more information, please visit PRIMESPORT.com.
Joyner, Longacre Sign Tenders, Rams add Two Free Agents
First, safety Lamarcus Joyner has signed his franchise tender, putting him under a one-year contract with the club. The Rams used their non-exclusive franchise tag on Joyner on March 6, electing to use it for the third year in a row and ninth time overall in club history. Joyner joined the Rams as a second-round pick in 2014, moving to free safety in the first year under head coach Sean McVay and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
Outside linebacker Matt Longacre has signed his restricted free agent tender and is now under a one-year contract with L.A. Longacre finished third on the team in 2017 with 5.5 sacks, playing in a rotational role.
Los Angeles also added a pair of familiar free agents in offensive lineman Cornelius Lucas and Darrell Williams. Lucas joined L.A. in September of 2017 after spending the first four years of his career in Detroit. He started the Week 17 matchup against the 49ers at right tackle.
Williams has been with the Rams since signing with the club as an undrafted free agent in 2015. He participated in all 16 games during 2017, mainly on special teams. He also started the Week 17 contest against San Francisco at left tackle.
Rams Sign Three Exclusive Rights Free Agents
At the start of the offseason program, the Rams have officially signed three of their exclusive rights free agents.
Cornerback Troy Hill, running back Malcolm Brown, and kicker Sam Ficken were all significant contributors in the 2018 season, and each has signed his ERFA tender.
The Rams claimed Hill off waivers late in the 2015 season, and he has been an important depth piece for the club over the last two years. Hill participated in 12 games in 2017, starting the last three games of the regular season and the playoff contest against Atlanta after starting cornerback Kayvon Webster went down with a season-ending Achilles injury. Hill finished with 18 tackles and five pass breakups in 2017.
Brown originally signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of Texas in 2015. He participated in 16 games in 2016 — mainly on special teams — before becoming Todd Gurley’s primary backup last year. He played 11 games, starting the Week 17 matchup against the 49ers. In that time, Brown recorded 246 yards rushing with one touchdown, and nine receptions for 53 yards.
Finally, Ficken is back with the club after filling in for injured kicker Greg Zuerlein in Week 15 of last season. Ficken connected on four point after TDs and two field goals in the regular season, plus an extra point and two field goals in the playoffs.
Monday Night Football will feature the Rams for the 60th time in the franchise’s history (27-32 overall record), with L.A.’s last appearance taking place during the 2016 season (at San Francisco, Week 1). The international contest also marks the Rams’ first regular-season game in Mexico and their first time ever facing the Chiefs in a primetime matchup.
Los Angeles will announce the remainder of their 2018 schedule on Thursday, April 19 at 5 p.m. (Pacific Time). For more information, please contact a member of the Los Angeles Rams communications department.
Diary Of A Ram Fan. A satirical look at more than 75 years of Football's Rams history, combined with discussions of American Exceptionalism and almost 50 years of personal experience in the life of a Rams Fan. The history parallels and intertwines life to form a humorous, yet serious look at American History, World History, an American Football team, and Political Science.
