Ep. 244: 2026 Schedule reactions, Seahawks matchup predictions & this year's primetime games
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In this episode of Between the Horns, hosts J.B. Long and Cameron Orwin break down the 2026 NFL schedule release, focusing heavily on the Los Angeles Rams' challenging yet strategically balanced slate. They express high excitement over the Rams' first-ever regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, praising the favorable timing and travel logistics, including a Monday night matchup against the Giants and a geographically manageable trip to Denver. The hosts analyze the early-season gauntlet—featuring the Eagles, Bills, and Cardinals—while highlighting the importance of the bye week and trade deadline alignment. They emphasize the critical November–December stretch, particularly the five-game span from November 25 to December 25, which includes high-stakes matchups against Green Bay, Kansas City, the 49ers, Cowboys, and Seattle. Despite concerns about playing Seattle twice in the final three weeks, the hosts agree the schedule maximizes competitive balance, recovery, and narrative momentum. They celebrate the abundance of primetime games—seven in total—and the team’s strong home schedule, while expressing confidence in the Rams’ ability to overcome adversity and contend for the Lombardi Trophy.
The Rams’ 2026 schedule features ideal travel patterns with recovery windows, especially after the Australia opener and before key road trips.
The November–December stretch is the most critical for playoff seeding, with five high-stakes games against top-tier opponents.
Seven primetime games and three 125s (12:50 PM) mean over half the season is featured, maximizing exposure and momentum.
The bye week aligns perfectly with the trade deadline, enabling strategic roster moves before the championship push.
Playing division rivals early and late is ideal for competitive balance, though the Rams face Seattle twice in the final three weeks.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Schedule Release Excitement & Australia Debut
“This is my second Christmas, but it's never happened that the Rams play on Christmas Day and we get to work on Christmas Day. So I'm living the life right now.”
Early Season Gauntlet: Australia, Giants, Denver & Eagles
The hosts analyze the first four weeks, praising the schedule’s balance—especially the recovery time after Australia, the geographically friendly trip to Denver, and the Monday night game against the Giants. They discuss the significance of the early Eagles matchup and the Rams’ historical success in early East Coast games.
Home Stretch & Divisional Rivalries: Bills, Cardinals, Raiders
The focus shifts to the Rams’ strong home slate, including matchups with the Bills and Cardinals. The hosts express concern about the Cardinals’ young talent and system, while also highlighting the importance of the Raiders game and the potential for a favorable travel schedule.
The Bye Week & Trade Deadline Synergy
“The trade deadline slots in right going into the Rams' bye week. So you go at Arizona. Trade deadline, bye.”
The November–December Championship Stretch
“The two games after that, for sure, are the most important. That's the championship stretch.”
“I would say my level of confidence with this team... out of 10, 9.8.”
“I think that they saw that Seattle and the Rams were the two best teams in the NFL last year. And a lot of times you do talk about teams resting and those type of things, but you want games that people want to watch late in the year.”
“This is my second Christmas, but it's never happened that the Rams play on Christmas Day and we get to work on Christmas Day. So I'm living the life right now.”
Hosts
Los Angeles Rams
other
J.B. Long
person
Cameron Orwin
person
Seattle Seahawks
other
Melbourne
place
Arizona Cardinals
other
Philadelphia Eagles
other
Las Vegas Raiders
other
New York Giants
other
NFL
organization
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