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          NFL Nation

          Los Angeles Rams schedule heavy on division foes early and late

          The Coliseum will serve as the initial setting for the latest era of NFL football in Los Angeles when the Rams begin their 2016 season. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
          • Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff WriterApr 15, 2016, 12:35 AM
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              Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ESPN since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In his 10 years with the company, Nick has led ESPN's coverage of the Niners' 2019 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick's protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam's subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team's relocation and stadium saga. You can follow Nick via Twitter @nwagoner
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          Breakdown: At first blush, the Los Angeles Rams' playing on the road (including London) in five of their first seven games would be cause for alarm. Although it's too early to know how the teams on the schedule will fare in 2016, it actually looks fairly manageable for the Rams leading into the Week 8 bye. The Rams were 4-2 against NFC West division foes last year and have played Arizona, Seattle and San Francisco tough under Jeff Fisher. They play those three teams in the first four weeks and then close the season with all three, meaning if the Rams can handle business outside the division, they have a chance to control how the season goes. It's also only fitting that Pete Carroll, former head coach at USC, and the Seahawks will appear in the first regular-season NFL game in the Coliseum since 1994.

          Back on the big stage: Turns out, the Rams didn't need to win more games to get more games on a bigger stage. All they needed to do was move back to the nation's second-largest television market. In addition to a Thursday night game against Seattle in December, the Rams also will participate in the second of two opening Monday Night Football contests. Add in the national television appearance to open the preseason against the Dallas Cowboys and the Week 7 game in London against the New York Giants and the Rams will be on a bigger stage four times in 2016.

          Rams reunions: After saying goodbye to four starting defenders this offseason, the Rams will have an opportunity to renew acquaintances with three of them. Linebacker James Laurinaitis and the New Orleans Saints will host the Rams on Nov. 27 and defensive end Chris Long and the New England Patriots will host the Rams on Dec. 4, pairing the Rams up against their two former defensive stalwarts in back-to-back weeks. The Rams will travel to London to catch up with cornerback Janoris Jenkins after he signed with the New York Giants in the offseason. Those teams will play the first NFL game at Twickenham Stadium on Oct. 23.

          Strength of schedule: 3rd, .551

          Rams Regular-Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

          • Week 1: Monday, Sept. 12, at San Francisco, 10:20 p.m.

          • Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 18, Seattle, 4:05 p.m.

          • Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25, at Tampa Bay, 4:05 p.m.

          • Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2, at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9, Buffalo, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16, at Detroit, 1 p.m.

          • Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23, NY Giants, 9:30 AM

          • Week 8: BYE

          • Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6, Carolina, 4:05 p.m.

          • Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13, at NY Jets, 1 p.m.

          • Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20, Miami, 4:05 p.m.

          • Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27, at New Orleans, 1 p.m.

          • Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4, at New England, 1 p.m.

          • Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11, Atlanta, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 15, at Seattle, 8:25 p.m.

          • Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24, San Francisco, 4:25 p.m.

          • Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, Arizona, 4:25 p.m.