After nearly sending three teams to the postseason in 2023, the NFC West has been an ultra-competitive division this season. Heading into Week 9 of the NFL season, just a half-game separates all four teams in the NFC West.
The Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks are all tied at 4-4, with the Los Angeles Rams a half-game back at 3-4, due to an early bye.
With the second half of the regular season approaching, which team will separate themselves from the rest of the pack and win the tightly contested NFC West this season?
Which Team Has the Best Chance To Win the NFC West?
Arizona Cardinals
In 2023, the Cardinals were the only team in the division that wasn’t involved in the race for a playoff spot. Due to several key players suffering injuries, including starting quarterback Kyler Murray, Arizona finished with a 4-13 record last season.
Now the Cardinals are firing on all cylinders, and Murray is playing at an elite level through the first eight games. He has the third-highest adjusted QB rating (74.4) this season, trailing only Joe Burrow (75.4) and Lamar Jackson (74.9).
Dan Orlovsky of ESPN recently appeared on the “Rich Eisen Show” and discussed how well Murray and the Cardinals have been playing in 2024.
No one is over .500 in the NFC West and the ESPN analyst told us why he’s looking at #RamsHouse to make a run:#NFL pic.twitter.com/V4W5c95RLn
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) October 29, 2024
Arizona is currently in first place in the NFC West due to its strength of schedule (.617), according to Pro Football Network’s NFL Playoff Predictor. Looking towards the second half of the regular season, the Cardinals also have the easiest schedule remaining in the NFC West.
According to PFN’s strength of schedule metric, Arizona has the seventh-easiest remaining schedule. Therefore, they should have a legitimate chance to win the division, despite not having the same level of talent that the other teams in the division might have.
San Francisco 49ers
After a heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl 58, many predicted that the 49ers would make another championship run in 2024. Yet, the start of the season has been derailed by injuries to key players, including Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk.
Despite the injuries, though, San Francisco is still tied for first place in the NFC West and heading in the right direction. The 49ers are currently the only team in the division with a positive point differential in 2024 (+28).
They will enjoy a much-needed bye week in Week 9, as the team expects McCaffrey to make his regular-season debut in Week 10, according to multiple reports. Head coach Kyle Shanahan seemed optimistic about McCaffrey’s chances of returning soon as well.
If San Francisco continues to get healthier, it likely has the best chance to separate from the rest of the division and win the NFC West. The 49ers, however, will have to overcome a tough three-game stretch from Weeks 12-14, during which they’ll play the Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, and Chicago Bears.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks got off to a scorching-hot 3-0 start to the 2024 regular season. In the last four games, though, they are 1-4 and have fallen back down to reality.
Seattle’s rough stretch included a 36-24 loss to the 49ers, where they trailed by as many as 20 points during the game.
Although Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith currently leads the NFL with 2,197 passing yards, he’s thrown eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Smith has been sacked 21 times this season, tied for the fourth-highest mark in the league.
The next several weeks will either make or break the Seahawks. They were already embarrassed at home by the Buffalo Bills in Week 8. Now, they’re slated to play the Rams, 49ers, and Cardinals across the next four weeks with a chance to create separation in the division.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are technically in last place at 3-4, but they are the dark-horse team to watch for in the NFC West.
Despite missing both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp for several weeks, the Rams have stayed alive in an ultra-competitive division. Following a statement victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 8, Los Angeles appears to be heading in the right direction.
In November, the Rams need to take advantage of a relatively weak schedule. They have the Seahawks, Dolphins, and Patriots over the next three weeks.
If Los Angeles is able to capitalize on this upcoming stretch and improve to 6-4, they will be in great shape moving forward with three divisional matchups in their final four games.
The rest of the NFC West had their chance to knock out the Rams in the first half of the regular season, but they may have made a mistake by allowing them to stay alive.
