There’s always one question on every NFL fan’s mind. In a division with the reigning Super Bowl champions, the NFL MVP, and the Defensive Player of the Year, how could there not be? In this NFL Preview series, we’re asking one burning question for every team. Here’s the NFC West.
Many questions could be asked when it comes to the Cardinals. The quarterback situation, the decision to draft Jeremiyah Love, and a new head coach in Mike LeFleur all bring a level of mystery to the desert.
The biggest question for Arizona in 2026 revolves around Marvin Harrison Jr. The fourth-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has struggled mightily, and the initial hype is essentially dead.
Through 26 career starts, Harrison has recorded 103 catches for 1,493 yards and 12 touchdowns. His career receiving success rate is 50.8%, and he was lapped by third-year receiver Michael Wilson.
In 2025, Wilson logged 78 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns, all higher than Harrison’s stats. Despite an unclear QB future, Marv may be entering a make-or-break third season. He’ll be under a microscope all year long.
It may be unfair to question something that’s out of the team’s control. Unfortunately, that’s the 49ers’ biggest hurdle. Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Ricky Pearsall were all hindered by injuries in 2025.
When healthy, the Niners are a Super Bowl-caliber team, as proven by their 2023 season. They’ve been to the big game twice in the last seven years but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs both times.
Injuries have unfortunately become so common in the Bay Area that it’s almost expected now. It’s the Niners’ biggest hurdle, and one that weighs on fans’ minds every season.
If the stars of San Francisco’s roster can stay healthy, they may be able to compete with a stacked division. If their woes continue, it’ll be another long season for the fanbase.
The rise of the Seahawks in 2025 was unprecedented, swift, and destructive. They went 10-7 in 2024 and missed the playoffs. They signed QB Sam Darnold, and head coach Mike Macdonald entered his second year with a fire no one was ready for.
Seattle’s “Dark Side” defense was dominant in 2025. They allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL (17.2) and led the league in defensive third-down rate (32.1%). They closed the year out with three turnovers and a touchdown in a Super Bowl victory.
The Seahawks recorded a franchise-best 14-3 record in 2025, and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba won the Offensive Player of the Year award. They lost running back Kenneth Walker, safety Coby Bryant, cornerback Riq Woolen, and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak during the offseason.
Seattle now has to prove to the world that Super Bowl LX wasn’t a fluke. The NFC West is a difficult division, and staying on top of the mountain is no easy task. The biggest obstacle in their way just so happens to be the next on our list.
The Rams are officially the team to beat, not just in the NFC West, but in the entire NFL. The reigning league MVP, Matthew Stafford, is back for another shot at the Super Bowl, and that’s the expectation.
After losing to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship, the Rams are responding with force. They traded for star cornerback Trent McDuffie early in the offseason. They then followed that up by trading for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett.
Los Angeles had the number one offense in total yards per game last season (394.6). They also led the league in pass yards per game (268.1) and points per game (30.5). If the defense was their weakness, it certainly isn’t now.
The Rams are gunning for Super Bowl LXI at their home, SoFi Stadium. They have the MVP and the DPOY, along with weapons like Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, and DeVante Adams. If they don’t win it all this year, something will have gone terribly wrong.
The NFC West had three teams win at least 12 games in 2025; two of them met in the conference championship. The margin for error in this division is razor thin, and anyone can take the crown. A three-team Super Bowl race is truly rare for a single division.
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