Last season, the San Francisco 49ers claimed their third NFC West title in five years en route to their second Super Bowl appearance under Kyle Shanahan. But the Los Angeles Rams have retooled their defense, and both Arizona and Seattle are looking for more out of their offenses this season.
Seven times in the past dozen years, the NFC West winner has represented the conference in the Super Bowl. Can this year’s winner make it there for the fifth time in seven years? We’ll cover who that divisional winner will be as well as the season win totals for each NFC West team.
Arizona Cardinals: NFC West Title +1300 / 7.5 Season Wins
A healthy Kyler Murray is a recipe for a strong season. The quarterback – who played in only eight games last season due to an ACL tear the year before – was effective as he won three of his eight starts.
This season, he has one of the highest-regarded draft picks in modern history. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is a virtual lock to become Murray’s top target as Zay Jones also joins the receiving corps this season. Florida State’s Trey Benson is also a sneaky good pickup for Arizona.
Defensively, there’s still plenty of work to do. The Cardinals ranked last in rush defense last season, and the team ranked 31st in scoring as a result. Arizona used a first-round pick on Missouri’s Darius Robinson, who is expected to start immediately to help shore up this season’s rushing defense.
Prediction: 3rd Place Finish NFC West, 8 Season Wins
Based on Murray’s superstar capabilities alone, it’s hard to not see this team break out of its slump this season with a schedule rated as the 24th-hardest slate in the league based on last season’s records for each opponent. Forecasting that Murray can bounce back and lead this group to eight wins is not a stretch of one’s imagination.
Los Angeles Rams: NFC West Title +330 / 8.5 Season Wins
Matthew Stafford is entering his 16th season in the NFL, and the 36-year-old regressed last season. For the third time in five years, Stafford failed to play every regular season game due to injuries, and that trend could continue again this season.
When he’s healthy, the veteran will have plenty of talent to target. Rookie Puka Nacua was electric last season, finishing with 1,486 yards on 105 receptions and six touchdowns. Cooper Kupp and Tyler Higbee are just as important to the passing game, and Kyrien Williams is expected to man the running back workload again this season.
Defensively, the backfield possesses the most gifted athletes as Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams will lock down opposing wide receivers. Aaron Donald’s retirement leaves a void in the defensive line, and the Rams attempted to address that by selecting Florida State’s Jared Verse in the first round of this year’s draft.
Prediction: 2nd Place Finish NFC West, 10 Season Wins
Stafford could be playing in his final season – as a Ram or otherwise. The window is closing on perhaps Sean McVey’s best chance to win a second Super Bowl as the stars who helped the team win the 2021 championship continue to age.
Expect this to be a strong campaign for Los Angeles that again finishes up in the playoffs.
San Francisco 49ers: NFC West Title -190 / 11.5 Season Wins
The 49ers have one of the most dynamic rosters in the NFL this season. And outside distractions from Brandon Aiyuk’s trade requests, San Francisco seems on a mission to win the Super Bowl before their window closes.
Offensively, San Francisco returns most of their starters from last season. Quarterback Brock Purdy’s rookie deal is helping the 49ers keep this roster together for another playoff run. Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Christian McCaffrey all return this year for an offense that averaged more than four touchdowns per game last season.
Defensively, the 49ers return a host of the team’s starters from last season and boast a player at nearly every position that could rank as one of the 10-best players at each spot. The 49ers added multiple players in the draft on the defensive side for a team that ranked third in the league by allowing just 17.5 points per game.
Prediction: 1st Place Finish NFC West, 12 Season Wins
This roster is the most complete the 49ers have fielded in a decade. Anything short of a third division title will be considered a failure for the San Francisco fanbase, even if the team suffers some injuries along the way.
Seattle Seahawks: NFC West Title +700 / 7.5 Season Wins
The cupboard isn’t bare for new coach Mike Macdonald, but the talented rosters that Pete Carroll commanded during his long-standing tenure are not present, either. Seattle is rebuilding this season, no matter how much the team attempts to sell this as a contending season.
Quarterback Geno Smith is a quality starter for the Seahawks, and he’s proven his value after being in the league for more than a decade. His top targets from last season all return as D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are a formidable trio. Having a healthy Kenneth Walker III in the backfield should help keep the pressure off Smith this season.
On the other side of the ball, fans won’t mistake the defensive back combination for the Legion of Boom, but this is a respectable group. All-Pro safety Jordan Love and cornerback Devon Witherspoon lead a group that will help Macdonald’s defense improve over last season’s finish.
Prediction: 4th Place Finish NFC West, 7 Season Wins
The biggest question mark for this team is its 37-year-old coach. Macdonald has been a defensive coordinator for three seasons, making a meteoric rise through the ranks to become a head coach this soon.
The same is true for first-time NFL offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, who spent the last 15 years rising through the college ranks. With so much inexperience on the sidelines, expect miscues aplenty that could be costly in late-game situations.
