Our 8th and final division to preview is the home of the Champs.

NFC West Preview

Los Angeles Rams (+1100 Super Bowl, +475 NFC, +125 NFC West)

Can Kupp Do It Again?
  • Coaching: HC Sean McVay finally broke through last year with QB Matthew Stafford running his offense and WR Cooper Kupp having a record year. Like every year, the OC changed in LA, this time McVay taps Liam Coen from the college ranks at Kentucky to coordinate. On D, Raheem Morris returns as DC for some consistency.
  • Personnel: On O, plenty of changes with WRs Odell Beckham and Robert Woods out, the Rams bring in former Bear, Alan Robinson. OT Andrew Whitworth retires opening the way for Joe Noteboom at Left Tackle. RB Cam Akers should be fully healed, but the O needs Stafford to be great again to match 2021’s production. On D, a lot of movement around super DT Aaron Donald with Von Miller leaving, LB Bobby Wagner comes aboard from SEA and they traded for CB Troy Hill from CLE.
  • Outlook: The Rams are still the team to beat in the NFC, but can you really count on Kupp being the best WR of all time and the defense of veterans to stay healthy? I don’t think they will be as good. The NFC and division are certainly in reach, but I see the AFC winning the Super Bowl this year.
  • Record: 12-5

San Francisco 49ers (+1600 Super Bowl, +750 NFC, +165 NFC West)

Bosa and the D Will Need to Lead SF
  • Coaching: HC Kyle Shanahan was really close to getting his team back to the Super Bowl in 2021, but almost doesn’t count. At OC, they have a committee with Chris Foerster (OL Coach in 2021) and Bobby Slowik (Passing Game Coordinator in 2021), so the scheme remains the same but with a new QB more wrinkles. DC DeMeco Ryans returns with his top unit.
  • Personnel: For the Offense, QB Trey Lance has been unimpressive in camp, which led to the restructuring of Jimmy G’s deal. So, he will remain on the roster as an insurance policy, if Lance cannot perform with what most people think is a Super Bowl roster. The rest of the Offense is almost unchanged with only OG Spencer Buford from UT San Antonio drafted to start. On Defense, DE Nick Bosa and company are elite up front. SF addressed the CBs with pick ups of Charvarius Ward (KC) and Samuel Womack drafted from Toledo.
  • Outlook: I liked the 49ers last year to win it all, and they were a dropped INT away from doing it. With Lance, they may be good, but I can’t see them getting to that level. I do think a healthy Jimmy G would take them farther. They will win games and make the playoffs, but it’s a team you will have to wait and see on come November/December.
  • Record: 11-6

Arizona Cardinals (+4000 Super Bowl, +1800 NFC, +360 NFC West)

Will Kyler Be Better in 2022?
  • Coaching: HC Kliff Kingsbury returns, and he has become the best 1st half season coach followed by the worst 2nd half season coach in the league. I’m not sure if it is his game plans or lack of adjustments, but it’s a pattern. OC Sean Kugler remains in this spot, even though Kingsbury calls the plays mostly. DC Vance Joseph had a good thing going until injuries hurt his team in 2021. Still, the schemes should remain the same.
  • Personnel: On O, it’s about QB Kyler Murray who was re-signed and originally had a clause about hours of film study which was then removed. Wow. His targets are a little different with WR Marquise Brown in and Christian Kirk out, and DeAndre Hopkins starts 2022 suspended for 6 games for PEDs. So, others will need to step up. Also, RB Chase Edmonds left for MIA with Darrell Williams (KC) to split with James Connor. On D, there are no changes of note. So, Morris needs to keep his guys healthy, including DE JJ Watt.
  • Outlook: The Cardinals have been really good early each season, and really disappointing late. I just feel like this year they fall off the map. Call it a gut feel, but they haven’t upgraded any position, and Hopkins out early will hurt. I’m probably being harsh here, but I don’t think they return to the playoffs.
  • Record: 8-9

Seattle Seahawks (+15000 Super Bowl, +6600 NFC, +1400 NFC West)

DK Got Paid, But Who Will Throw to Him?
  • Coaching: HC Pete Carroll comes back again. I actually have liked Pete as a coach. He is the league’s oldest coach, but doesn’t act like it. However, I think his time should be up. SEA is in a rebuild, and it makes sense for him to walk away, yet he is still right here. OC Shane Waldron returns, but he has a big task at hand given the personnel changes. There is a new DC in Clint Hurtt who elevates from the D Line Coach. So, maybe the same scheme, but he’s lost his defensive leader.
  • Personnel: The Offense will be fundamentally different with QB Russell Wilson being traded to DEN for TE Noah Fant, QB Drew Lock and some draft picks. So, there is a competition between Lock and Geno Smith who was the back up for Wilson last year, and Smith will be the Week 1 starter (but for how long). Regardless of who starts, it is a major downgrade. So, the running game will need to be really good with incumbent RB Rashaad Penny and rookie Kenneth Walker from Michigan State. SEA also added OT Charles Cross from Mississippi State at Left Tackle and signed C Austin Blythe (KC). So, besides the WRs – DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett with Penny, you have a lot of new faces. On D, the heart of the D, Bobby Wagner is in LA, and they changed a lot with DE Shelby Harris (also from the Wilson trade), signed LB Uchenna Nwosu (Chargers) and CBs Artie Burns (CHI) and Justin Coleman (MIA).
  • Outlook: SEA’s days of the Legion of Boom are long gone. With Wilson out, it is hard to imagine the Seahawks being competitive in 2022. Their hopes of landing Jimmy G off of waivers disappeared, but even with him, I think the core team needs more juice to win in their division. It’s going to be a long year, and I expect Carroll to finally step down at the end of this season.
  • Record: 4-13

Prediction: The Rams will win this division.

Wegs

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.