The NFC West has three teams that have a legitimate chance to win it all. The Seattle Seahawks, LosAngeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers are all teams with at least 11 wins. I will be making my case for each team winning the Super Bowl and the reasons for what could stop them.
The Seahawks are currently atop the NFC West after Week 17. They just manhandled the Carolina Panthers 27-10 in a game where Bryce Young threw for just 54 passing yards and an interception. The key to their path to Super Bowl 60 is simple: Defense.
The Seattle defensive unit, led by head coach Mike McDonald, is arguably the best in the league. The Seahawks are ranked third in points per game allowed and fifth in yardage. They are impossible to run on as they make other teams one-dimensional.
Their biggest potential hurdle is quarterback play. Sam Darnold has been fantastic for them this year. The offense is second in scoring, and he’s had a Pro Bowl season. His performance in big games, however, is a question mark.
In the final two games last year, Darnold had around a 50% completion rate, and the Minnesota Vikings scored nine points in each. The first game was a game for the top seed in the NFC, and the second game was a playoff game. Two games with high stakes.
This year, Darnold, in a game for first in the division against the Rams earlier in the year, threw four interceptions. His track record for big games does not fare well. With that said, the comeback he led in the second game vs Los Angeles should give Seattle fans hope.
That was also a big game, as that put the Seahawks atop the West. The defense is also good enough to overcome the offense’s faltering. In the game, Darnold threw four interceptions, but Seattle only lost 21-19. They held the Rams to their worst offensive outing of the year.
Do you believe in the Seahawks?
The San Francisco 49ers are now red-hot with six straight wins. Brock Purdy has been playing at an MVP level since his three-interception game against the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football. Since that game, he’s thrown for 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions and has run for three more in a four-game span.
The key to their path is the explosive offside. The 49ers won their most recent game 42-38 on the shoulders of Purdy and Christian McCaffery. Despite the injuries to George Kittle and Trent Williams, the offense did not skip a beat.
San Francisco has averaged 38.25 points per game in their last four games. The offense is more than capable of taking this team all the way, especially if they get home-field advantage. In their case, it includes the Super Bowl.
The 49ers’ biggest concern, however, is their defense. They have suffered too many injuries on that side of the ball, and it’s shown in the last few weeks. They’ve lost Nick Bosa for the year and Fred Warner, who may come back at some point.
The last three games have been underwhelming for Robert Saleh and his unit. San Francisco gave up 24 to the Tennessee Titans, 27 to a 44-year-old quarterback, and 38 to the Chicago Bears, who have been inconsistent on offense.
The offense will have to continue its current play, or it will be tough for the 49ers to advance. Either way, it has been a successful season for them, given the wave of injuries they faced and continue to face.
Do you believe in San Francisco?
Los Angeles is certainly the most balanced in the NFC West. They are led by MVP favorite Matthew Stafford with a defense that is more than solid. Their biggest advantage is experience.
The Rams have been in the Super Bowl recently and won. They have also been in the postseason in 2023 and 2024. They are certainly battle-tested, as are the 49ers.
The argument for Los Angeles is that they will have the best quarterback in every game they play. Stafford has been putting up video game numbers all year long at 37 years old, with 40 touchdowns and just five interceptions. They can go score-for-score with just about any other team in the league.
The Rams are balanced, so they don’t have a glaring weakness. I will say this, however. Losing that Thursday Night Game to Seattle, up 16 late in the fourth, may come back to bite them. That loss got them out of the one seed and will more than likely make them a wildcard team.
Los Angeles is such a throw-heavy team, and playing at home in a dome would have served them well. Instead, they will have to go on the road in the elements, which reduces their chances.
Do you believe in the Rams?
Week 18 is especially huge for the NFC West. The Seahawks and 49ers get to battle it out on Saturday Night to determine who gets the one seed.
I feel like whoever wins that game should be the favorite to win it all. Both teams are so good that home-field advantage will be the ultimate difference.
We cannot count out the Rams, though. They’ve been here before.
It’s going to be a fun postseason. Watch out for the West.
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