The Los Angeles Rams will bring professional football back to the City of Angels for the first time since 1994 but will they bring winning football back with them? It looks as if it's going to be tough after an offseason in which they lost some key pieces on defense and did little to improve the offense immediately. They'll pin their hopes on a quarterback taken No. 1 overall in the draft, but the guess here is it won't be enough to land their first winning record since 2003, though they should offer more hope for the future in the process.
With the 2016 schedule available and Jeff Fisher still in place as the head coach, our way-too-early projection has the Rams finishing 8-8. Here's how they get there:
Week 1: Monday, Sept. 12 at San Francisco 49ers, 10:20 p.m. ET
There's something great about the NFL reigniting this rivalry upon the Rams' return to Los Angeles by having these two teams meet on Monday Night Football. The Rams lost to the Niners in the 2015 season finale, but they should be healthy and ready to atone for that loss in the opener.
Record: 1-0
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 18 vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET
This should be even more fun as former USC coach Pete Carroll returns to his old stomping grounds for the Rams' first regular-season game at the Coliseum. The Rams swept the Seahawks last year and have given them all they want since Fisher arrived in 2012. That continues here.
Record: 2-0
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 25 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:05 p.m. ET
The Bucs might as well be an NFC West foe at this point as they seem to end up on the Rams' schedule every season. That has been a good thing for the Rams, who have beaten Tampa Bay four straight times since Fisher arrived in 2012. But this will be the Rams' first cross-country trip since moving to Los Angeles and the Bucs appear to be on the upswing.
Record: 2-1
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 2 at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Rams stunned the Cardinals in 2015 and would love nothing more than to get their third division win just a quarter of the way through the season. But Los Angeles won't have the element of surprise with running back Todd Gurley this time.
Record: 2-2
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 9 vs. Buffalo Bills, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Rams and Bills don't play often and lack of familiarity has been a problem for the Rams in recent seasons. But the Rams should have enough to outlast Buffalo this time as they embrace being back home.
Record: 3-2
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 16 at Detroit Lions, 1 p.m. ET
The Rams handled the Lions in 2015 with Jay-Z in the building. No telling if he will be in attendance this time, but the Rams should be able to again pressure Matthew Stafford and get a victory.
Record: 4-2
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 23 vs. New York Giants (London), 9:30 a.m. ET
Things didn't go so well for the Rams the last time they traveled across the pond. This time, they'll play in Detroit then fly directly to London to play the Giants. It's a lot of travel and it's a tall order for any team to win both. Odell Beckham Jr. has another big day against the Rams as they come up short here.
Record: 4-3
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 6 vs. Carolina Panthers, 4:05 p.m. ET
The bye comes at a good time in Week 8 as the Rams can relax after so much travel. But the reward is the defending NFC champions at home after the time off. Carolina and the Rams came to blows the last time they played, and though emotions probably won't run as high as that day, the Panthers should be able to get the job done.
Record: 4-4
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 13 at New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET
The Rams continue to rack up the mileage as they go back across the country to see Todd Bowles and the Jets. They haven't been there since Brett Favre was playing quarterback. New York's combination of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker could have a big day if New York can get quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick back.
Record: 4-5
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 20 vs. Miami Dolphins, 4:05 p.m. ET
Adam Gase led the Bears to an easy win against the Rams and now gets to bring his new team to the West Coast for a rematch. Gase proved capable of staying one step ahead of Fisher and the Rams last year, which should make for another close game, but the Rams find a way to steal this one late.
Record: 5-5
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 27 at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET
The Rams don't play the Saints often but when they do, they seem to be a thorn in their side. Linebacker James Laurinaitis will be fired up to beat his former team but Gurley could go big in this one.
Record: 6-5
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 4 at New England Patriots, 1 p.m. ET
A difficult two-game swing culminates in a visit to the perennial AFC power. The Rams and Patriots haven't met since New England's 2012 demolition of the Rams in London. The Patriots are the better team and the Rams will be on the second leg of a pair of long road trips.
Record: 6-6
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 11 vs. Atlanta Falcons, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Rams can finally settle in after spending much of the first three-quarters of the season on the road. Atlanta coach Dan Quinn knows the Rams well from his time in Seattle but if the Rams can find a way to limit Julio Jones (and by limit we mean, keep from taking over), they should be able to get a win.
Record: 7-6
Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 15 at Seattle Seahawks, 8:25 p.m. ET
The Rams' final trip of the season comes on a short turnaround against a hated division rival. The Rams pulled off the upset in Seattle last year, but it's hard to see them doing it twice in a row.
Record: 7-7
Week 16: Saturday, Dec. 24 vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Rams cling to faint postseason hopes by completing the sweep of the Niners on Christmas Eve. In the process, they reach eight wins for the first time in five years under Fisher and the first time since 2006 overall.
Record: 8-7
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 1, vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Rams come up short in their bid for their first winning season since 2003 as the Cardinals are playing for positioning in the NFC playoffs. A 3-3 finish in the NFC West pairs appropriately with the Rams' final record overall.
Record: 8-8