The NFC West Powerhouse
I can’t remember another point in time when a division had 3 legitimate Super Bowl contenders. We frequently get divisions with 2, which usually results in the slightly worse contender complaining that the playoff seeding is unfair, as they get the 5th seed. We’ve had 3 divisional teams reach the playoffs before, like the NFCN two years ago or the 2007 NFCE, but in those cases only two teams usually feel like legit threats and the third is just a feisty youngest child.
To be fair, that might be the current NFCW, with the 49ers being the odd one out, but I hesitate to actually commit to that. Especially before we get a look at how the season goes. Right now, on paper, we have 3 legitimate championship contenders.
The Rams are now the obvious favorite. They came within a game of the Super Bowl, they came within a fluke 2pt conversion of the #1 seed, they just traded for the best defensive player in the NFL and they were already good on defense. The only weakness they appear to have is special teams, and the fact that Stafford is standing perilously on the edge of The Age Cliff.
The 49ers are getting Nick Bosa back and they signed Mike Evans. Losing Robert Saleh is a disappointment, but Raheem Morris is a decent replacement. The questions that haunt the 49ers are their perpetual injury woes and Schrodinger’s Brock Purdy. Is he good? We still don’t know for sure. But we know he’s good enough. He already almost managed to win one super bowl. If the 49ers can find whatever witch put a hex on all their knees and banish her to the netherrealm to stay healthy, this team is easily good enough to compete with anybody.
Funnily enough the Seahawks are who I would have listed as the odd one out before last season. They don’t appear to be a powerhouse. They have talent, but are lacking real star power outside JSN. But as last year proved, that’s just how this team rolls. That is their identity. Maybe they call themselves THE DARK SIDE because they are still hard too see. Whatever questions they have, whatever losses they incurred this offseason: none of it matters. They already proved they can do it. No reason to assume they can’t do it again.
And then…we have…uh
The Cardinals.
Remember last year when we saw the Jets offseason and we all just sort of understood that they would be awful no matter what? Yeah. The Cardinals are that but worse. A new, uninspiring coach (The other Lafleur). A high draft pick that seems to be made for jersey sales and not team building. One of the worst ownerships in the league. A mid-level backup QB. A highly touted young WR that hasn’t lived up to billing. An eternal curse from the Pottsville Maroons. This team is going to be turned into paste in 2026. Like the Jets last year, they might get so blasted that it might be impossible to tell if LaFleur is actually a bad coach or just dealt the worst hand possible. If the Cardinals can manage 5 wins next year, that’s a victory. I’d say this will be fine in the long run if I could; by the time the Cardinals have rebuilt themselves it’s likey the Rams/Niners/Hawks will have fallen off for one reason or another. But this is the Cardinals we are talking about. We don’t have to pretend to take them seriously and assume that they will reach that level in the next few years. Just do something else with your time. This franchise is a disgrace.
I would be amazed if I ever met a Seahawks/Niners/Rams fan who considers the Cardinals their main rival. They’re the annoying little yapyap dog running around your ankles, sure they might bite you, but you can punt them into the sun if it comes to it.
Still remember the year the 49ers went 2-14. Their two wins? The Cardinals.
I got the whole thing. But when I saw the meme, I legit cackled out loud. All my co-workers looked at me funny. It was great. 10 out of 5 moment.
Agree. That meme got me. I wasn’t expecting it when I scrolled down. But yeah, that’s the Cardinals season.
I’m shocked you didn’t draw electrical arcing off the 49er’s person. Just saying.
Don’t forget the parts where the Cardinals have one of the hardest schedules possible, and Brissett has decided to hold out. As a Cards fan, I say just throw Carson Beck to the wolves, see what he’s got, and likely take a QB with the first pick next year in a stacked draft.
Saido chesto!
Does Dave sell shirts? I feel like some dudes out west would be buyers for this one.
It does seem a little unfair that the Cardinals are in the same division as three heavyweights. It’s basically just 6 games they’re almost guaranteed to lose.
This is just yaoi with extra steps!
Next season the Bears play the Seahawks, the Packers play the Rams, and, because of the divisional tiebreakers, the Vikings get the Niners and the Lions get the Cardinals. That embarrassing Lions home loss to Nine and Brosmer might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for Detroit. A very, very good disguise.
You’re absolutely right, it’s rare to see that much depth within a single division. Seattle’s resurgence has definitely added another layer to the competition.