Matthew Stafford and the Rams are staring at a schedule that looks anything but forgiving, and Kelly Stafford made it clear she noticed.
On her Instagram Stories, Kelly posted a photo of herself with a cross-eyed look and flipping the bird, then laid out exactly what she thought of the calendar ahead.
“Me just now realizing the Rams play in Australia, play on Christmas, play on Thanksgiving Eve, have 7 (possibly more) primetime games, and DON'T HAVE A REAL BYE WEEK,” she wrote before conceding, “Parenting this season will be such a joy.”
The comment fits a year that figures to keep the Stafford household busy. Matthew and Kelly have four daughters - Sawyer, Chandler, Hunter, and Tyler - and Kelly will likely be carrying plenty of the load while the Rams grind through a demanding slate.
It starts right away. Los Angeles opens in Week 1 with the NFL’s first-ever game in Australia, and it’s no soft landing either, with the San Francisco 49ers on the other sideline. From there, the Rams are lined up for more prime-time attention, with games against the New York Giants and Denver Broncos before a showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Super Bowl champions from two years ago.
Week 5 brings another big stage: a Monday Night Football home game against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
The middle of the season gives the Rams a little breathing room from Weeks 6 through 10 before their bye week, but the back half turns nasty again. They get the Green Bay Packers the night before Thanksgiving, then the Kansas City Chiefs, followed by another meeting with the 49ers, plus the Dallas Cowboys and the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Los Angeles closes with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Seahawks, and both of those games are flex matchups, which means they could end up in primetime too.
At least the Rams have Stafford to steer the ship. He enters 2026 as the reigning NFL MVP after leading the league in passing yards with 4,707 and touchdowns with 46 in 2025, while throwing just eight interceptions.
In Other News...
Rams Backup QB Battle Just Got More Real For Stetson Bennett
Stetson Bennett got the first crack in the Rams preseason opener, starting ahead of rookie Ty Simpson and completing 4 of 6 passes for 38 yards. A recent joint practice made it clear that the competition is still live, though, as Bennett and Simpson split second-team reps while Los Angeles worked through a limited practice slate and tried to make the most of every look it could get.
Sean McVay said the split was about evaluation, not a finished decision, and he was careful not to hand Bennett the backup job just yet. For a Rams team trying to sort out quarterback depth before the regular season, the battle behind Matthew Stafford still has some runway left, and Bennett will have to keep answering every chance he gets. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Backup QB Battle Suddenly Feels Far Less Settled
What looked like a straightforward backup quarterback job in Rams camp has turned into something a little more interesting. Stetson Bennett entered training camp and the preseason as the clear No. 2 behind Matthew Stafford, but rookie Ty Simpson has kept making enough noise to force a longer look, especially after his strong showing against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sean McVay has said the recent split in practice reps is tied to there simply being fewer snaps available, but the timing still matters. A competition that once seemed settled now feels more open, and for a team that values order at quarterback, even a modest change in the rotation can say plenty about where the conversation is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Offense May Lean On One Risky Bet Early
Training camp is wrapped, and the Rams head into the regular season with plenty to feel good about on offense. Davante Adams gives them another proven target, Kyren Williams remains a central part of the attack and the group still has the look of a unit built to stress defenses in a hurry.
Puka Nacuas situation is the part that could complicate the early weeks. He is dealing with groin soreness and is also facing possible NFL discipline, even though no suspension has been finalized, which puts extra attention on the Rams receiver and running back depth. If Nacua is slowed or unavailable, the team may have to lean on less tested options to keep the explosive plays coming. [Read more 🡒]