The NFC West, not so long ago, boasted some serious powerhouse teams which produced teams that, for a few seasons, at least, threatened to be serious championship contenders. The 49ers went to the NFC Championship Game each year from 2011-2013, and made it to the Super Bowl in that middle season, almost winning. The Seattle Seahawks began to be a serious force in 2012, and then went to back-to-back Super Bowls, winning the first, and almost winning the second. They continued to be a tough playoff team for years. And the Arizona Cardinals were also a solid team for a few seasons that peaked and went 13-3, reaching the NFC Championship Game, in 2015.
Last season, the NFC West seemed to enjoy a bit of a revival. The Cardinals were not really part of that, and indeed, were one of the worst teams in the league. But the 49ers were widely regarded as a sleeper pick, with some preseason projections even having them as legitimate Super Bowl picks. But a key injury to their new starting quarterback effectively put all of that on hold for at least a season. Yet, the Seahawks returned to playoff form, and appear ready to contend again. And the Rams, of course, raced off to a great undefeated start, enjoying the best record in the league. They finished with a 13-3 record, and reached the NFC Championship Game, ultimately defeating the Saints in controversial fashion, but nonetheless reaching Super Bowl LIII. They played the Patriots tough, to boot, but lost in the end, managing only a field goal, despite boasting one of the most explosive offenses in the league last season.
So, just how good will the NFC West be this season? Clearly, they seem to boast at least two, and possibly three, playoff caliber teams once again. Can the Rams reach the Super Bowl again? Will the Seahawks get back to the playoffs, and perhaps contend with the Rams for NFC West supremacy? And will the 49ers, with a presumably healthy Garoppolo at the helm, enjoy the kind of breakout season that so many believed they would have last season?
Let’s take a closer look at each team in the NFC West:
1. Los Angeles Rams (projected division winner) – The Rams raced off to an undefeated 8-0 start, the best record in the league at the time, as they remained the only undefeated team left in the league. They never looked back, finishing the season with a very impressive 13-3 mark, the best for the franchise since the then St. Louis Rams finished 14-2 in 2001. This Rams team, like that one, had an explosive offense and a defense that was able to get the job done. That can go far in the league these days, and it was a formula that earned the Rams a playoff bye and, ultimately, allowed them to reach the Super Bowl. Plus, they were still very much in the running to win what would have been only the team’s second Super Bowl title. Ultimately, the Patriots won, as likely as not because of their greater experience as anything else. But the Rams were there right to the end, and gave themselves a chance. Really, that is all that you can ask for. So the question, then, would be if this team can do it again? The experience factor that New England enjoyed over the Rams might now work in the Rams favor over other teams heading into this season. They have won two division titles in a row, and understand the rigors involved with both enjoying strong regular seasons, as well as making at least one ,long playoff run all the way to the Super Bowl. The pieces are still pretty much in place for them to make another run, and there is no obvious reason that I can think of why the Rams would not be able to be the best of the NFC West again this year. They have much the same talent on offense this season as last year. Sean McVay is apparently at least toying with some new ideas with running back formations, but the Rams look to be in good shape overall. They were perfect within this division last year, crushing the Cardinals in both meetings, convincingly beating the 49ers twice as well, and getting past the Seahawks in two tough games that, ultimately, put aside any question of who the best team in this division was. That does not guarantee success this season, but if the Rams go at least 6-2 or 7-1 (or better), which seems likely, they should be in good position to win yet another NFC West title, and to have another chance at a deep run through the playoffs again this coming season.
2. Seattle Seahawks (projected third place) - Projected Second Place: Seattle Seahawks – Some had expected little from the Seahawks last season, and indeed, after a rough 0-2 start, the Seahawks did not appear to be all that good. But they turned things around in a big way, and ultimately qualified for the postseason. They were still only 4-5 after a second loss to the Rams at midseason point, but then went on to win six of their last seven regular season games to finally reach the playoffs. There, they played tough, but ultimately lost to the Dallas Cowboys. But last season could only be viewed as a success overall for Seattle. They had a solid offense that averaged over 26 points per game, and their defense, while not quite at the level of the “Legion of Boom” years, was still quite strong. If they manage not to lose too much from that, they can seriously build on that to become a team that not only contends for the division title, but could even be a serious title contender. But they have to fin ways to beat some of the better teams in the league. They were 2-4 against playoff teams last season, and then went on to lose to Dallas – a team that they actually beat in trhe regular season – once the playoffs rolled around. If they could have beaten more winning teams – particularly if they could have beaten the Rams at least once, they might have made the NFC West race a lot tighter, and been a factor. So, they really need to win some more of those kinds of games if they hope to improve upon their decent season last year, and become a serious title contender once again. They have a solid coach in Pete Carroll, and Russell Wilson really seems to have become one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the league. Plus, they both have quite a bit of experience, including championship experience, under their belt already. This could be a dangerous team if they play their cards right, and they might even be able to contend for the NFC West title. Another playoff appearance, at the very least, seems like a good bet for this team entering the 2019 season.
2. San Francisco 49ers (projected second place) - Some people seemed to think that the 49ers were overnight Super Bowl contenders almost literally as soon as they picked up quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots. But he was injured before the season even began, he was injured, and all of that talk went away. Now, Garoppolo appears to be healthy, yet here is something strange and unexpected: there is some talk that maybe his backup, Nick Mullens, is applying a bit of pressure, based on how well he has played, and how much the 49ers like him. So, presumably, if Garoppolo does not play well, or especially if he suffers another serious injury again, he might be under serious pressure as what at least appears to be a brewing quarterback controversy could be underway in San Francisco. The offense was not bad last season, especially in the latter part of the season, under Mullens. He was at the helm after the 49ers got off to a horrific 1-7 start, but he began to play well right away with a blowout win over the Raiders. At the time, it was only the second win for San Francisco, but under Mullens, they would go on to win three times. Their offense was not a powerhouse unit, but under Mullens, it had potential and was even, at times, fairly explosive. The defense, on the other hand, was a liability all season long. It was one of the weakest defensive units in the league, and the 49ers allowed 27 points or more 10 times. They were 1-9 in those games. So needless to say, however the apparent quarterback controversy plays out, and no matter how much the offense clicks or does not click, this team’s chances to do anything this coming season really depends on how much the defense can improve, because the offense, right now, is simply not so good or explosive that they can overcome such huge gaps on the defensive end. A season where this team makes improvements upon their 4-12 mark last season seems likely. This team has some serious talent, especially on offense, and they can probably avoid enormous lapses that were critical to their playoff hopes like the six game losing streak that they suffered early on, and which saw them tailspin all of the way out of the playoff picture by the midpoint of the season. Indeed, San Francisco should be better. However, the playoffs may be out of reach for them if there are not serious improvements
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1. Arizona Cardinals (projected last place) - The Cardinals had once of the worst defenses in the league last season. That means that, like the Rams and the 49ers within this division, they have to make improvements on the defensive end. Yet, that was not the biggest weakness that this team suffered from last season. They had the worst offense in the league, averaging barely 14 points per game. In six games, they were held to 10 points or less. Not surprisingly, they were 0-6 in those games, and got blown out in each of them. They got a few wins here and there, including a rather surprising sweep of their division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, although that came before that team started to find a bit more rhythm under Mullens. Arizona finished 3-13, and were rewarded the first pick in the NFL Draft, which is generally recognized as meaning that you were the worst team in the league the season prior. That is a dubious distinction to have, but the Cardinals really were not a very good football team. They only had one win over a team that was not the 49ers, and that was a surprise win at Green Bay, although the Packers were hardly the powerhouse team that they have been in recent seasons. With an atrocious offense that ranked literally dead last among all NFL teams, and a defense that allowed 26 points or more in half of their games, there was obviously a lot of room for improvement. No quick fixes seem likely, and they are in a tough division to try and improve, with two playoff teams last season, and a 49ers team that may or may not be a playoff caliber team, but which seems unlikely nonetheless to be swept by the likes of Arizona again. It is hard to see at the moment how the Cardinals avoid finishing in the cellar again this coming season.
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