When the NFL schedule drops this month, all eyes should be on the Los Angeles Rams—and not just because they're a heavy Super Bowl favorite. With reigning MVP Matthew Stafford under center and a roster built for a championship run, the Rams are primed to dominate primetime in 2026.
It's not a stretch to say L.A. deserves the most night games of any team this season. Sure, the defending champion Seahawks are in their division, but that only adds to the drama. Both matchups between these NFC West rivals should be primetime locks, especially after last season's thrillers in Week 16 and the NFC Championship. Seattle will undoubtedly get plenty of national slots—they earned it—but why can't the Rams top them? Winning the big game doesn't automatically guarantee the most primetime appearances, but the Rams' star power and recent trajectory make a strong case.
Look at last season: the Chiefs tied an NFL record with seven primetime games, even after the Eagles dismantled them in the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Rams had only four primetime slots, which felt low for a team coming off two straight playoff appearances. But L.A. is trending upward. Since the 2024 campaign, they've racked up 10 primetime games total, and it's reasonable to expect they'll match their 2024 mark of six this year. Their Week 1 matchup with the 49ers in Australia is already set for a late Thursday slot, leaving five more opportunities for national audiences to tune in.
Potential primetime opponents are plentiful. The Bills, for instance, could feature two reigning MVPs going head-to-head—say less! Whether it's divisional showdowns or marquee cross-conference battles, the Rams are must-watch TV. Anything less than five primetime games would be a disappointment, because this team has earned the spotlight. With Matthew Stafford's MVP pedigree, one of the league's deepest rosters, and a return to Super Bowl contention, get ready to see the Rams under the lights plenty in 2026. They've earned the right to the most primetime games in the NFL this season.