The Los Angeles Rams aren’t approaching 2026 like a team willing to wait. They just made one of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason, acquiring Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns. Add reigning MVP Matthew Stafford, Sean McVay and a team that finished one win short of another Super Bowl appearance last season, and expectations are understandably high. The Rams are also scheduled for seven primetime games in 2026. The message is pretty clear: The Rams believe they can win a Super Bowl now. If you’re outside the Rams’ broadcast area or traveling during the season, we’ll cover regional coverage, streaming restrictions and NFL blackouts below. Already know you need a VPN? Skip to our guide on how to set up a VPN for Rams games
The Trade That Changed the Rams’ Ceiling
Myles Garrett was already one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive players. Then 2025 happened. Garrett recorded 23 sacks, setting a new NFL single-season record, and won his second Defensive Player of the Year award. He now has 125.5 career sacks and has reached double-digit sacks in eight consecutive seasons. That’s the player the Rams just acquired. And Los Angeles paid accordingly.
The Rams sent Cleveland:
- Jared Verse
- 2027 first-round pick
- 2028 second-round pick
- 2029 third-round pick
It’s an enormous package. Verse was already one of the Rams’ most promising young defensive players, while three premium future selections represented significant long-term capital. But this isn’t a move designed around the long term. Garrett has openly discussed the urgency he feels to win a Super Bowl, and Los Angeles is giving him an opportunity to chase one immediately. The Rams were already one victory away from reaching the Super Bowl last season. Now they’ve added the reigning Defensive Player of the Year to that roster. That’s why the Garrett trade doesn’t just improve Los Angeles. It changes the ceiling.
And Then There’s Aaron Donald…
As if adding Myles Garrett wasn’t enough. There’s another possibility hanging over Rams training camp. Aaron Donald might not be finished. Donald retired following the 2023 season after one of the most dominant defensive careers in NFL history. He hasn’t played in either of the last two seasons.
But a potential return in 2026 has become a legitimate storyline. McVay said in July that he genuinely didn’t know what Donald would ultimately decide, but confirmed that Donald was putting himself through a strict training process to determine how his body responds and whether he wants to play again. It’s important not to get ahead of that. Aaron Donald has not announced that he’s returning. The Rams also don’t need him to come back for the Garrett trade to make their defensive front considerably more dangerous. But it’s impossible not to imagine the possibility.
Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald on the Same Defense?
Garrett is coming off a 23-sack season. Donald retired with 111 career sacks, three Defensive Player of the Year awards and eight First-Team All-Pro selections. If Donald decides retirement is still the right choice, Los Angeles already added one of the most disruptive defensive players in football. If he comes back? The Rams would have an opportunity to put two generational defensive players on the same front. And suddenly an already fascinating Rams season becomes something else entirely.
Are the Rams Super Bowl Contenders?
At this point, it’s difficult to argue that Los Angeles isn’t built to contend. The Rams were one win away from reaching the Super Bowl last season, and Matthew Stafford enters 2026 as the reigning NFL MVP. Sean McVay is still running the team. Les Snead is still constructing the roster. And the Rams extended both of them during the offseason after a nine-year run together that has already produced seven playoff appearances, three NFC Championship Game appearances, two Super Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl LVI championship. Now they’ve added Garrett. Los Angeles also brought in All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, while retaining important defensive pieces such as Nate Landman, Kam Curl and Quentin Lake.
There’s another detail that makes the timing particularly interesting. Super Bowl LXI will be played at SoFi Stadium. The Rams have already won a Super Bowl in their home stadium once. They’ve now built a roster capable of at least making fans wonder whether they could get another opportunity. But before February comes September. And this Rams schedule isn’t exactly quiet.
Los Angeles Rams 2026 Schedule & TV Guide
The Rams begin the season on the other side of the world, facing San Francisco in Melbourne, Australia, in the first regular-season NFL game played in Australia. They then return to Los Angeles for a Monday night home opener against the Giants.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (PT) | TV / Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 10 | vs. San Francisco 49ers — Melbourne | 5:35 PM | Netflix |
| 2 | Sept. 21 | vs. New York Giants | 5:15 PM | ESPN / ABC |
| 3 | Sept. 27 | at Denver Broncos | 5:20 PM | NBC |
| 4 | Oct. 4 | at Philadelphia Eagles | 10:00 AM | FOX |
| 5 | Oct. 12 | vs. Buffalo Bills | 5:15 PM | ESPN |
| 6 | Oct. 18 | vs. Arizona Cardinals | 1:05 PM | FOX |
| 7 | Oct. 25 | at Las Vegas Raiders | 1:25 PM | FOX |
| 8 | Nov. 1 | vs. Los Angeles Chargers | 1:05 PM | FOX |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | at Washington Commanders | 10:00 AM | FOX |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | at Arizona Cardinals | 1:05 PM | CBS |
| 11 | — | BYE | — | — |
| 12 | Nov. 25 | vs. Green Bay Packers | 5:00 PM | Netflix |
| 13 | Dec. 3 | vs. Kansas City Chiefs | 5:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 14 | Dec. 13 | at San Francisco 49ers | 1:25 PM | FOX |
| 15 | Dec. 20 | vs. Dallas Cowboys | 1:25 PM | CBS |
| 16 | Dec. 25 | at Seattle Seahawks | 5:15 PM | FOX |
| 17 | TBD | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | TBD | TBD |
| 18 | TBD | vs. Seattle Seahawks | TBD | TBD |
The Rams currently have seven primetime games, including appearances on Netflix, ESPN/ABC, NBC and Prime Video. Week 17 and Week 18 details remain TBD, and eligible games can change through NFL flex scheduling.
Rams Blackouts, Regional Coverage and Out-of-Market Games
Seeing FOX next to a Rams game on the schedule doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get that game on your local FOX station. That’s because many Sunday afternoon NFL games are distributed regionally. If you’re outside Southern California, your local CBS or FOX affiliate may carry another matchup instead of the Rams. That’s an out-of-market broadcast issue, and for eligible Sunday afternoon games, NFL Sunday Ticket is the primary U.S. out-of-market option. But that’s different from encountering a location restriction or blackout while traveling.
Why Is My Rams Game Blacked Out or Unavailable?
There are several reasons a Rams game or stream may not be available where you’re watching. Your local CBS or FOX station could be carrying another game. The game could be exclusive to a national broadcaster or streaming service. Your streaming service could also be using your location to determine what you’re allowed to access. That distinction matters. If the Rams simply aren’t being carried by your regional CBS or FOX affiliate, a VPN doesn’t replace NFL Sunday Ticket.
If you’re traveling and a streaming service you normally use has become unavailable because of your current location, however, changing your IP location with a VPN may help unblock access to your usual streaming service. That’s where a VPN becomes much more useful.
How to Use a VPN to Watch Rams Games
If you already know you need a VPN, here’s the setup.
1. Check Where the Rams Game Is Airing
Start with the schedule above. The Rams aren’t confined to one broadcaster in 2026. Depending on the week, you’ll need FOX, CBS, ESPN/ABC, NBC, Netflix or Prime Video. Make sure you actually have access to the service carrying that week’s game.
2. Install a VPN
We use and recommend ExpressVPN for sports streaming. It offers U.S. and international server locations, fast connections suited to streaming and apps across popular devices.
Affiliate Disclosure: VPNForSports may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
3. Connect to an Appropriate Server
Open ExpressVPN and select a server appropriate for your location and streaming setup. The VPN will change the IP address associated with your internet connection.
4. Open Your Normal Streaming Service
Sign into the service carrying the Rams game. If you’re traveling and your current location was preventing access, using a VPN may help unblock the streaming service you normally use.
5. Find the Rams and Start Watching
Trying to Unblock a Rams Game? Identify the Restriction First
If the Rams aren’t on your local CBS or FOX station, start by checking whether another regional game has been assigned to your market. Check NFL Sunday Ticket for eligible out-of-market games.
If you’re traveling and your normal streaming service instead says the content isn’t available in your location, a VPN may help unblock your normal Rams stream.
And if the Rams are on a national or streaming-exclusive broadcaster, you’ll need that service.
What viewers call a Rams blackout can therefore have several different causes — and the right solution depends on which one you’re experiencing.
Rams VPN & Blackout FAQ
A VPN may help when a streaming service you normally use is unavailable because you’re traveling or your current IP location has changed. Connect to an appropriate VPN server and then reopen your normal streaming service. You’ll still need access to the broadcaster carrying the Rams game.
First check the network. A Rams game could be unavailable because your regional CBS or FOX affiliate is carrying another matchup, because the game is exclusive to a different service, or because your streaming provider is applying location restrictions. Identifying the reason tells you which solution actually makes sense.
Yes, although NFL broadcasting and streaming rights vary between countries.
How Far Can This Rams Team Go?
The Rams didn’t trade Jared Verse and three premium future draft picks because they’re thinking about what the roster might look like four years from now. They’re trying to win now. LA already came within one victory of reaching the Super Bowl last season. Stafford is coming off an MVP season. McVay and Snead have already shown they can construct a championship team.
And now Myles Garrett—the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and NFL single-season sack record holder—is wearing a Rams uniform. That alone would be enough to make Los Angeles one of the teams worth watching most closely in 2026. And somewhere in the background, Aaron Donald is deciding whether he’s really finished playing football. The Rams don’t need Donald to return to make 2026 interesting. The Myles Garrett trade already accomplished that. But if Donald decides he’s not finished? Expectations in Los Angeles are going to get even higher.
