Three Rams Matchups We Wish Were on 2023 Schedule

The Los Angeles Rams won't face these intriguing teams unless they meet in the postseason.

The Los Angeles Rams learned their full schedule last week, a slate that, in addition to the three other NFC West teams, will also feature matchups against the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. 

Still, there are a few teams not on the 2023 schedule that would have been intriguing matchups for Matthew Stafford and the Rams. Here are three:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After being released by the Carolina Panthers in early December, Baker Mayfield latched on with the Rams and played well enough in parts of five games to land a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason that will seemingly allow him to be the Week 1 starter. There was some thought that Mayfield should return to the Rams and position himself to be the successor to Stafford, especially with Sean McVay having returned after contemplating taking a break from coaching. Instead, Mayfield is in Tampa Bay, and it will be interesting to monitor if the former No. 1 overall pick can make the best of what will likely be his last chance to be a starter in the NFL. 

Detroit Lions

The Rams won a Super Bowl in Stafford's first season in Los Angeles, but the Lions appear to be set up to have more success moving forward. Jared Goff tossed 29 touchdowns to seven interceptions for an upstart Lions team that won nine games in 2022. As far as the significant draft compensation that the Lions acquired from the Rams in the January 2021 trade, Brad Holmes has turned that into six players, including wide receiver Jameson Williams and running back Jahmyr Gibbs. 

Minnesota Vikings

Kevin O'Connell parlayed two seasons as the offensive coordinator of the Rams under McVay into being named the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. While the Vikings were eventually upset by the New York Giants in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, they went 13-4 in their first year under O'Connell, a very successful campaign. Getting to see O'Connell coach against McVay for the first time would be intriguing. 

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