Los Angeles Rams remain the favorite
The Los Angeles Rams entered the 2026 NFL season as DraftKings Sportsbook’s Super Bowl favorite at +500, then moved to +600 after a 27-7 Week 1 loss to San Francisco in Melbourne.
DraftKings listed Buffalo and Baltimore at +1000 after the opener, leaving Los Angeles with the shortest Super Bowl price. The gap narrowed, but the Rams remained first on the sportsbook’s futures board.
Los Angeles Rams absorb historic loss
San Francisco beat Los Angeles 27-7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 10. The 20-point defeat became the largest Week 1 loss by a preseason Super Bowl favorite across 50 seasons of odds data.
The Rams scored only seven points and were held scoreless in three quarters. San Francisco produced points in every period, turning a close halftime score into a comfortable opening victory.
Matthew Stafford struggles in opener
Matthew Stafford completed 15 of 25 passes for 155 yards against San Francisco. He threw one interception, finished without a touchdown pass, and posted a 61.2 passer rating in the loss.
Stafford entered 2026 after leading the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and a career-high 46 touchdown passes in 2025. His personal passing-yard best remains 4,886 from the 2021 season.
Brock Purdy controls the matchup
Brock Purdy completed 25 of 34 passes for 205 yards against the Rams. He threw three touchdown passes, one interception, and posted a 105.6 passer rating as San Francisco pulled away after halftime.
Deebo Samuel caught six passes for 48 yards and one touchdown, while Mike Evans added six receptions for 49 yards and another score. San Francisco finished with three different touchdown receivers.
Los Angeles Rams build on 2025 run
The Rams finished 12-5 during the 2025 regular season and reached the NFC Championship Game. Seattle ended their postseason run with a 31-27 victory on January 25, one win short of Super Bowl LX.
That playoff run shaped 2026 expectations. Los Angeles retained Matthew Stafford and key offensive players while acquiring Trent McDuffie from Kansas City and Myles Garrett from Cleveland during the offseason.
Los Angeles Rams miss market spread
Los Angeles entered Week 1 favored by 3.5 points against San Francisco. The 49ers won by 20, creating a 23.5-point difference between the closing spread and the final margin overall.
DraftKings moved the Rams from +500 to +600 after the result. Los Angeles still remained ahead of Buffalo, Baltimore, Seattle, San Francisco, and Kansas City in Super Bowl futures pricing.
Los Angeles Rams carried high expectations
Before Week 1, bet365 gave the Rams the shortest odds to record at least 10 regular-season wins. Los Angeles stood at -450, ahead of Baltimore at -270 and Buffalo at -210 as of September 8.
That confidence followed a 12-win 2025 season and a run to the NFC Championship Game. Los Angeles also returned Matthew Stafford and several other offensive leaders from that postseason roster.
Los Angeles Rams had defensive concerns
The Rams allowed at least 26 points in all five regular-season losses during 2025. Seattle then scored 31 against Los Angeles in the NFC Championship Game, extending that defensive pattern into January.
Los Angeles allowed an average of 31 points per game across its 2025 losses, including postseason games. That was the highest mark among eight teams finishing with six or fewer total defeats.
Trent McDuffie joined the defense
Los Angeles acquired Trent McDuffie from Kansas City after pass coverage emerged as an offseason concern. The two-time All-Pro joined a cornerback group that struggled against efficient passing performances during several 2025 losses.
The Rams also acquired Myles Garrett from Cleveland, sending Jared Verse and multiple draft picks in return. Week 1 showed the rebuilt defense still had adjustments to make against San Francisco.
Los Angeles Rams face Giants next
The Rams host the New York Giants at SoFi Stadium on September 21 in Week 2. That Monday night game gives Los Angeles its first chance to respond after the opening defeat.
Los Angeles then visits Denver on September 27 and Philadelphia on October 4. Buffalo comes to SoFi Stadium on October 12, creating an early stretch against multiple teams with recent winning records.
Fun fact: The Rams’ Super Bowl LVI ring hides a tiny SoFi Stadium replica inside, complete with turf made from remnants of the actual championship field.
Los Angeles Rams face early schedule test
Los Angeles opened 2026 against San Francisco in Melbourne before facing the Giants, Denver, Philadelphia, and Buffalo. The five-game sequence includes two true road games, two SoFi Stadium dates, and the Australia opener.
Philadelphia reached the 2025 playoffs, while Buffalo finished 12-5 and also qualified for the postseason. Those matchups give Los Angeles early tests against teams that entered 2026 with recent success.
Seattle and San Francisco apply pressure
Seattle remains a major NFC West challenge after finishing 14-3 in 2025. The Seahawks beat Los Angeles 38-37 in December, then won the NFC Championship Game 31-27 in Seattle during January.
San Francisco also finished 12-5 in 2025 and opened 2026 by beating Los Angeles 27-7 in Australia. The result added another division challenge for the preseason Super Bowl favorite this season.
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Los Angeles Rams still lead the market
History also works against preseason certainty. According to FOX Sports’ 30-year dataset, the preseason Super Bowl favorite entered the season at +500 or shorter 20 times, and none of those teams won the championship.
FanDuel listed Los Angeles as the +600 Super Bowl LXI favorite on September 14, with no other team shorter than +1000. Buffalo, Baltimore, Seattle, and San Francisco remained among the closest contenders, leaving the Rams favored but under greater pressure.
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Do the Rams still deserve to lead the Super Bowl market after their Week 1 loss, or should another contender move ahead? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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