The San Francisco 49ers sat atop the NFC West and were one goal line stop away from becoming 2024 NFL champions. They return a similar team to last year’s group that had to fight for every postseason win. Trailing them are the Los Angeles Rams after a bounce back season, a Seattle team in limbo, and the still-rebuilding Arizona Cardinals. Will the norms remain or will Kyle Shanahan’s powerhouse team fall off?
Here is every other divisional preview to this point:
Arizona Cardinals (2023-24: 4-13, missed playoffs)
If this wasn’t the scrappiest four-win team ever, then which four-win team was? This team beat Dallas, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, the latter two on the road. Five of Arizona’s 13 losses were determined by one score. Jonathan Gannon engineered team efforts any football fan cannot help but admire, but there is one problem. The team as a whole just doesn’t have the skill level needed to take a step forward.
Kyler Murray is back for a full season and has more to prove with a new best friend at wide receiver: Marvin Harrison Jr. Perhaps he will contribute to Arizona’s first 300-yard passing game since Week 8 of 2022. Trey McBride arrived on the scene last year, posting 825 yards (seventh among tight ends) on 81 catches (sixth among tight ends) last year. James Conner also posted Arizona’s first 1,000-yard season on the ground since 2016.
Team defense left a lot to be desired. Arizona allowed 26.8 points per game, the second-most in the league. The Cardinals was also bottom ten in yards given up per game, allowing 355.7 per contest. On top of that, Arizona allowed fewer than 20 points in just two games last year. Arizona needs to make more stops as a team.
Heart and determination cannot be measured. Unfortunately for Arizona, the on-field stats are measured. Nothing about this team sticks out in a way that inspires confidence. Marvin Harrison Jr. will be fun to watch at least, but he cannot carry a team to prominence… yet. It is safe to say Arizona will be fourth of four in the NFC West in 2024.
Los Angeles Rams (2023-24: 10-7, lost Wild Card Round at Detroit)
The 2022 Super Bowl Champions must adjust to life without Aaron Donald and things were not looking up in November last year. The Rams’ season was a tale of two halves. Entering the bye week, Los Angeles was 3-6. After the break, the Rams won seven of eight to end the regular season. Matthew Stafford and company entered Detroit white hot, but left with nothing to show.
Two young guns almost singlehandedly facilitated the offense. Kyren Williams became the Rams’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Todd Gurley in 2018. His 1,144 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns were third and seventh-best in the league, respectively. Where Cooper Kupp fell short, fifth-round pick Puka Nacua picked up the slack. Nacua broke a long-standing rookie record for receiving yards and was top ten in the league in receptions. Expectations for Nacua are high, can he build off that once-in-a-lifetime season?
The Aaron Donald-less defense still has pieces Rams fans can get excited about. Tre’Davious White has arrived in Inglewood ready to help a secondary that was tied for 23rd in interceptions last year. Kobie Turner still led the team in sacks with nine and Byron Young tied Donald last year with eight. This defense looks good all-around, but will it be enough to put the Rams over the edge?
It will ultimately result in a similar record to last year. For any improvements made last year, expect downturns from Nacua and Williams. Both will still be good players, but it may be a bit much to ask Nacua to repeat a nearly 1,500-yard campaign and Williams to put up over 1,100 yards again with newcomer Blake Corum poised to lighten the load.
San Francisco 49ers (2023-24: 12-5, lost Super Bowl vs. Kansas City)
Kyle Shanahan cannot have his legacy as an NFL coach be as the one who could never get it done. The pieces are all in place. All San Francisco has left to do is make that last stand in the biggest game of them all.
The 2024-25 season will not be about winning the NFC West. It will not be about making the playoffs. In short, it’s all or nothing for San Francisco. Brandon Aiyuk has been in trade rumors for months and does not have a contract extension in place. Leonard Floyd arrives to his third team in as many years. First-rounder Ricky Pearsall will be a vital reinforcement at wide receiver.
It stands to reason that, barring disaster, San Francisco will be the class of the NFC. It will not be a perfect regular season and they might not even get a petty revenge win against Kansas City. San Francisco will not hold its breath until January and beyond.
Seattle Seahawks (2023-24: 9-8, missed playoffs)
A late-season collapse doomed Seattle to missing the playoffs in what would turn out to be the final year of Pete Carroll’s coaching career (to this point). Mike Macdonald has the reins now and will lead a team that needs some revelation to avoid getting stagnant.
The turnover from last year to this year is minimal, but the few losses are of significance. All starting skill position players have returned. Kenneth Walker returns to start at running back, but has yet to play a full season. Tyler Lockett’s four-year streak of 1,000-yard seasons ended last year, so Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be counted on to make up for that.
Many defensive starters are also back, but Bobby Wagner has left for a second time. Wagner contributed 13.7% of Seattle’s tackles last year. It will be on Seattle’s defense to find a way to lock down without him. Even with Wagner’s contributions, Seattle allowed 371.4 yards per game, third-most in the league.
This team is going to make very little sense. Geno Smith was inconsistent throughout the year, and inconsistent is not enough to make his play worth his contract. This team will reach unprecedented highs, like beating the probable 2024 NFC West champions, but also lows such as losses to Arizona and Minnesota. If everything goes right, this team can push for a playoff spot. The postseason is likely not in the cards for Seattle, though.
Next time: A look at what will be a tumultuous Week 18, then the playoffs!
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