How I see the NFC West shaking out

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

We’ve previewed the Los Angeles Rams 2025 regular season schedule in the following segments:

Part 1: The Opening Quarter

Part 2: Litmus Test Before the Bye

Part 3: Clash Against the NFC South

Part 4: A Potentially Tough Close

It’s now time to turn an eye to division standings and consider how the NFC playoff picture could shape up.

This is how I see the NFC West pecking order this season:

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JB’s NFC West Predictions:

There aren’t any bottom feeders in the division, and when that happens teams tend to beat up on each other to an extent.

That alone makes it tough for anyone to run away with the NFC West. For every one seed there is often a 3-14 “rival” they beat up multiple times to pad their record at the margins.

1 - Los Angeles Rams: 11-6

I see the division and opportunity to host a playoff game coming down to the Week 18 contest against the Cardinals in Los Angeles. It would be ironic to rest starters in the regular season finale in back-to-back years against the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks only for the Rams to fight for their lives against the historically measly Cardinals. Such an outcome would also signal transitions for San Francisco and Seattle.

This would mark consecutive NFC West titles for LA. The last time the team accomplished this feat was in 2017-2018—when they reached the Super Bowl for the first time under Sean McVay.

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

2 - Arizona Cardinals: 11-6

11 wins would mean a three-game improvement for Arizona over their 2024 record of 8-9. Is that really crazy? I sure don’t believe so.

Kyler Murray is—in my view—the best quarterback in the division and one of the most electric signal callers in football. Like Matthew Stafford, Murray can be frustratingly inconsistent.

But it seems wise to say the best has yet to come. This is Murray’s third year under offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who should be a favorite to fill a head coaching opening next offseason. Arizona’s run game is always formidable. Marvin Harrison, Jr., while he didn’t meet lofty (and perhaps unfair) expectations last year, was still productive by rookie standards. Trey McBride is one of the best tight ends of football.

On defense Jonathan Gannon has developed a reputation in his first two seasons as head coach as someone who is willing to get creative as a play caller to mitigate a lack of overall talent. The Cardinals have accumulated better chess pieces over the last few offseasons, and they now have the horses to keep things simple if they so wish. As the baseline improves, the creative approach and aggressiveness could be the icing on top of an overall defensive turnaround.

If you can’t tell, I’m bullish on the Cards this year.

3 - San Francisco 49ers: 8-9

How many losing seasons does Kyle Shanahan have left? The Rams would be glad to see him leave the division, though it wouldn’t be a wise decision by the 49ers. Still, the team has hitched its wagon to Brock Purdy and his job security may be more stable than his head coach’s.

Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images

4 - Seattle Seahawks: 6-11

For Seattle, these are no longer the Pete Carroll Seahawks. Is that a positive? General manager John Schneider has seized control of decision making, though he has a suspect recent draft history. Swapping Geno Smith for Sam Darnold is a net downgrade. Darnold likely won’t look the same when he doesn’t have the incredible supporting cast he had with the Minnesota Vikings. Pivoting from Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf to Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling seems like a bad bet as well.

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