The St. Louis Rams will kickoff their 2011 season at home when they host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 11 at the Edward Jones Dome. The Rams’ schedule features two nationally-televised primetime games as well as contests against both reigning conference champions.
“We are excited about our 2011 schedule. It is a very challenging one that we all look forward to competing in,” said Rams Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo. “We encourage our fans to continue to make the Edward Jones Dome a tough environment for opposing teams. We are also excited for our team and our fans that we will be featured on national television this season.”
For the second consecutive year, the Rams open the season at home as the Eagles come to St. Louis for a game that will be played on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Rams will play on ESPN’s Monday Night Football for the first time since 2006 as St. Louis travels to New York to face the Giants on Sept. 19. The Rams are 27-27 all-time on Monday Night Football and lead the all-time series with the Giants, 26-14. St. Louis hasn’t played the Giants in New York since 2005. The game will pit Spagnuolo against the team he helped lead to a Super Bowl victory in 2007. Spagnuolo served as the Giants’ defensive coordinator during New York’s win over New England in Super Bowl XLII.
The Rams and Baltimore Ravens meet for just the fifth time in franchise history as Ray Lewis and company visit the Edward Jones Dome in Week 5. The Sept. 25 matchup will break a tie in the all-time series as the teams split their first four meetings.
For the fourth consecutive season, the Rams will square off with the Washington Redskins, and like they did in 2010, Mike Shanahan’s club will visit St. Louis this fall. The Rams aim for a second straight win over Washington when they host the Redskins in Week 4 (Oct. 2).
The Rams’ bye week comes in Week 5 (Oct. 9), which is followed by back-to-back road games. The Rams and Packers meet for the 92nd time when St. Louis heads to Lambeau Field for a Week 6 contest against the defending Super Bowl Champions. The Rams hold a 46-43-2 lead in the series, one that dates back to 1937. The trip will be St. Louis’ first to Green Bay since 2006.
In Week 7, the Rams travel to Dallas to face the Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. The Rams are 15-14 all-time against Dallas, including a 34-14 win in the last meeting in 2008.
Former NFC West rival New Orleans comes to St. Louis in Week 8 for a rematch of a Week 14 contest from last year. The Saints won the 2010 meeting between the clubs, but the Rams lead the all-time series, 38-32. St. Louis will play its first divisional contest in Week 9 as the Rams visit the Arizona Cardinals. St. Louis split with the Cardinals last season and holds a 32-31-2 advantage in the all-time series. In Week 10, the Rams face their former offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur as they visit the Cleveland Browns. St. Louis looks to even the all-time series, one that Cleveland currently leads 11-10.
The Rams return home for consecutive home games against NFC West foes in Weeks 11 & 12. They’ll host the Seattle Seahawks at the Edward Jones Dome on Nov. 20, and Arizona visits the Gateway City on Nov. 27. St. Louis follows their two-game NFC West home stand with two divisional road games in Weeks 13 & 14. On Sunday, Dec. 4, the Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park.
The Rams will be back in primetime for the second portion of the two-game road swing as they travel to Seattle to play the Seahawks on Monday Night Football on Dec. 12. In Week 15, St. Louis will host the Cincinnati Bengals. The Rams are 5-6 all-time against Cincinnati, who makes its first visit to St. Louis since 2003.
On Christmas Eve, the Rams visit Pittsburgh to play the defending AFC Champion Steelers in a Saturday afternoon game. St. Louis, which holds a 15-7-2 advantage in the all-time series, makes its first trip to Western Pennsylvania since 2003. The Rams wrap up their 2011 slate with a New Year’s Day home game against the San Francisco 49ers.
