Second Half Schedule: Perception vs. Reality

[AvengerRam]

There has been a perception since the start of the year that the Rams' schedule in the second half of the season is much tougher than the first half.

There is some truth to that, but some of that analysis has changed based upon the performance of the Rams' opponents in the second half of the season.

Right now, here is the aggregate records of the Rams' opponents:

First half of season: 26-33 (.441)
Second half of season: 28-32 (.467)

Not exactly a huge disparity.

The real difference is the fact that the Rams played 5 of 8 in the first half of the season at home, and will now play 5 of 8 on the road.

How strong is the home field advantage for the Rams' opponents? Their road opponents are currently a combined 11-8 on their home fields (though Denver has a 1-3 home record).

The Rams, of course, have yet to win on the road (though they were close @Tampa and @Oakland) so they must demonstrate that they can do so.

If the Rams can win two of their five road games, they will have a very good shot at 8-8, which could be enough to win the division.

The post-bye matchup against the Niners will be a good opportunity to move in the right direction. If the Rams can keep Frank Gore under control and pressure QB Smith (Troy or Alex), they should have a good chance.

[Varg6]

I gotta say, beating San Fran in their house after the bye week would be the perfect way to cure our woes on the road. Although they aren't the team people thought they'd be (Dennis Green anyone?) it's still a divisional game and they'll be giving it their all against us. The great thing is, regardless of what happens, the Rams expect to win. Eventually we'll get that road win but I predict it'll be Week 10 against the Whiners.

[RamsInfiniti]

I've got the Rams at 5-3 in the 2nd half ....

[laram0]

It's going to come down to that last game of the season at Seattle.

[AvengerRam]

It's going to come down to that last game of the season at Seattle.

I'm going to disagree with you and predict that Seattle will be eliminated from the race before that game.

[LA Rammer]

I'm going to disagree with you and predict that Seattle will be eliminated from the race before that game.

i concur. looking at whiners schedule and being just 2 games down, if they dominate the division good chance they will win it. key game vs whiners at sf. here's to our first road win!

GO RAMS!

[Nick]

The combined record of the teams in the second half of the schedule isn't as lofty as one might have predicted before the season, can't argue there. That being said, when I look at the second half of the schedule, I see...

• Three tough opponents in NO, ATL, and KC
• A 2-6 ***** team that, like the Rams, were close in a number of games and could have had a better record
• A late November game in Denver
• A season-ending road game in Seattle

Regardless of record, I think that represents a pretty legitimate challenge and a tougher stretch than the first half of the season.

[AvengerRam]

A late November game in Denver

Not sure I'd put that one in the minus column. Denver has not had much of a home field advantage and, if weather is a factor, I like the Rams' rushing/short passing attack over Denver's "throw it around" approach.

[Nick]

Not sure I'd put that one in the minus column. Denver has not had much of a home field advantage and, if weather is a factor, I like the Rams' rushing/short passing attack over Denver's "throw it around" approach.

Well, with the Rams winless so far on the road, I certainly wouldn't put it in the plus column for St. Louis either. That's why it's one of four specific factors I mentioned that, despite the combined opponents' record, make me feel the second half of the season is going to be tougher than the first half.

[molar_pistol]

i think the second half is for sure more difficult, but there are still a lot of winnable games for sure, including 4 division games. with our struggles on the road it could be easy to predict more struggles for us, but i think we'll get that monkey off our back and finish out no worse than 8-8.

[Truth]

Look, at this point, if the Rams end the season 8-8, or even 7-9, I will be very happy with their progress. I just don't want to see the second half of their season go the way of the second half of many of the games we've played so far.