Games against both Super Bowl XLII teams, and three consecutive divisional matchups late in the season will highlight the St. Louis Rams 2008 season, announced by the NFL today.
The Rams open the season on the road Sept. 7 at Philadelphia, the first time the Rams have played in the "City of Brotherly Love" since 2002. The Rams opened the 2001 season at Philadelphia, collecting a 20-17 overtime victory en route to playing in Super Bowl XXXVI that season. Since the Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995, the Rams are 8-5 in season openers.
The Rams return to St. Louis for the season home opener to face the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants on Sept. 16. The game will mark the first time the Rams will host the Giants since 2002. In Week 3, the Rams head back on the road to face NFC West Division champs the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 21. In Week 4, the Rams come back to the Edward Jones Dome to face off against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 28. The game will mark the first time the Bills have played in St. Louis since 1995.
After a bye in Week 5, the Rams have back to back games against the NFC East — first heading east to take on new head coach Jim Zorn and the Washington Redskins Oct. 12, then coming home to take on the NFC East champion Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 19.
The Rams will close the month of October against the Super Bowl runner-up New England Patriots in Foxborough Oct. 26.
In Week 9, the Rams will return home for its first home divisional game against the Arizona Cardinals Nov. 2. The Rams return to the road to take on the New York Jets Nov. 9 and then head to face NFC West foe San Francisco 49ers Nov. 16.
The Rams have back-to-back home games for the first time of the season in Weeks 13 and 14. On Nov. 23, the Rams take on former Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith and the Chicago Bears and on Nov. 30, the Rams face the Miami Dolphins.
To open December the Rams have back-to-back-to-back divisional games. First, the Rams head to Phoenix to take on the Cardinals for the second meeting of the season. The Rams come back home to take on Seattle on Dec. 14 and San Francisco Dec. 21. The three-game stretch marks the first time the Rams have had three consecutive divisional games since realignment in 2002.
The Rams close out the regular season on the road at Atlanta Falcons, Dec. 28.
PRESEASON
Thurs.-Mon., Aug. 7-11 @ Tennessee Titans
Thurs.-Mon., Aug. 14-18 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Thurs.-Mon., Aug. 21-25 BALTIMORE RAVENS
Thurs., Aug. 28 at Kansas City Chiefs 7 p.m.
REGULAR SEASON
Sun., Sept. 7 at Philadelphia Eagles
Sun., Sept. 14 NEW YORK GIANTS
Sun., Sept. 21 at Seattle Seahawks
Sun., Sept. 28 BUFFALO BILLS
Sun., Oct. 5 BYE
Sun., Oct. 12 at Washington Redskins
Sun., Oct. 19 DALLAS COWBOYS
Sun., Oct. 26 at New England Patriots
Sun., Nov. 2 ARIZONA CARDINALS
Sun, Nov. 9 at New York Jets
Sun., Nov. 16 at San Francisco
Sun., Nov. 23 CHICAGO BEARS
Sun., Nov. 30 MIAMI DOLPHINS
Sun., Dec. 7 at Arizona Cardinals
Sun., Dec. 14 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Sun., Dec. 21 SAN FRANCISCO
Sun., Dec. 28 at Atlanta Falcons