The 2026 season will test the endurance of the Los Angeles Rams long before the playoffs begin. Between coast-to-coast road trips, divisional battles in hostile environments, and an international opener in Melbourne, Australia, the Rams are expected to travel roughly 34,847 miles during the regular season — the second-most in the NFL.
Los Angeles will leave SoFi Stadium for challenging away matchups against the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks, and all three NFC West rivals throughout the year. The biggest headline, however, is the Rams opening the season overseas against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, a trip that alone accounts for nearly half of their total mileage.
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But the real disadvantage is not the mileage, its the rest weekly disadvantage that the Rams have compared to other teams in the league.
Sharp Football Analytics provided a graph of all 32 teams with the Chicago Bears have the most advantageous “rest” schedule and the Los Angeles Chargers having the least favorable “rest” schedule.
The Rams “net rest edge” was -6, tied for 27th with the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, and Pittsburgh Steelers. They will had disadvantages in five games, notably against the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. The Rams will hold an advantage in five games, but only two “1 day”, one “2 day” and two “3 day” advantages.
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Los Angeles will face the Green Bay Packers coming off their bye week but Green Bay will also be coming off their Week 11 bye too.
15 teams have a positive “net rest edge” while 15 teams have a negative “net rest edge”. Two teams (Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers) have a “net rest edge” of zero.
Within the NFC West, the other teams have the following advantage:
Time will tell if the Rams can overcome another strength of schedule and net rest disadvantage.
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