The NFC West's Runner-Up Is Already Primed For TV Dominance, And We Know Who's Not Happy

Alright, fam, you know we're always bleeding green and blue here in the Emerald City, but sometimes you gotta peek outside the 206 to see what kinda nonsense the rest of the league is up to. And lemme tell ya, the early word from the NFL schedule drops has us raising an eyebrow, especially when it comes to *those guys* down south. The Los Angeles Rams, who were our NFC West runner-up last season, are apparently set to be everywhere you look.

Seriously, Seven Games?!

Yeah, you heard that right. It’s early in the season, and already the chatter is about how the Rams have a "reasonable shot" at becoming the first team to win the Super Bowl on their home field *twice*. And as if that wasn't enough, they're gonna be glued to your screens, whether you like it or not. The NFL's 2026 broadcast schedule has them down for seven times as the easiest team to find. SEVEN! Like, we get it, they were good, but an NFC West *runner-up* getting that kind of primetime love? Makes ya wonder what kinda magic they're working in LA, or what kinda magic *we* need to work up here to get that kind of spotlight. Just sayin'.

Meanwhile, Around the Diamond...

Switching gears to MLB, 'cause you know we're always tracking what's happening on the diamond, even if it ain't our boys. The Chicago White Sox are finally hitting their stride, going above .500 for the first time since their 2023 opener, thanks to their fifth straight win! Randal Grichuk was doing work, driving in four runs, including a two-run homer, in their 6-2 beatdown of the Kansas City Royals. Good for them, I guess? Makes you think about how every team just needs that one spark, right? Over on the East Coast, Kyle Schwarber is out here launching dingers for the Philadelphia Phillies, hitting his 18th bomb of the season as they took down the Boston Red Sox 3-1. And big shoutout to Jesus Luzardo, who tossed six scoreless innings. That's some serious pitching. Then you got the Chicago Cubs avoiding a sweep against the Atlanta Braves with a 2-0 shutout win, where Ian Happ homered, and FIVE pitchers combined for a five-hit gem. Ben Brown even threw four innings with seven strikeouts to kick it off. Wild stuff happening across the league, man.

Playoff Heat and the Golf Green

And if you thought the baseball drama was wild, the NHL playoffs are just delivering. The Montreal Canadiens, man, they just took Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, beating the Buffalo Sabres 6-3. Nick Suzuki was an absolute wizard, scoring a goal and setting up two others. Juraj Slafkovsky wasn't far behind, stacking up three assists. That's clutch performance right there when the stakes are highest. Our Kraken boys aren't in that exact spot right now, but watching that kinda intensity makes you hungry for it, you know? Oh, and for those of you who also keep an eye on the links, the LPGA Kroger Queen City Championship just kicked off. Ina Yoon, Chella Choi, and Rio Ohashi are all tied for the lead after the first round. Yoon even carded an eagle. Early days, but always cool to see the pros doing their thing. So, yeah, lots of action swirling around out there, from the diamond to the ice to the fairways. But no matter what's happening nationally, we're always gonna be here, hyped for our teams, ready to cheer them on. Keep an eye on those other leagues, for sure, but our focus is always gonna be right here in Seattle. Until next time, stay loud, 12s!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.