NFL 2023: NFC West Breakdown

The 2023 NFL season is around the corner, which means it’s the perfect time to take a look at how each team will potentially shape up this season. 

We continue with the NFC West.

BetMGM NFC West Best Bets: 49ers Div Winner (-165), Dual Forecast – 49ers/Seahawks (-375)

Arizona Cardinals

Season Recap: This season was the fourth and final under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. The Cardinals attempted to become the third team in NFL history to host and win the Super Bowl that was being played on their home turf, but failed to improve on their 11-6 record from the previous year and missed the postseason after a Week 15 loss against the Denver Broncos.

A plethora of factors contributed to the team’s losing season, most importantly season-ending injuries to their starters and off the field drama.

Offseason: A day after the season ended, the team announced that the head coach and general manager Steve Keim would not return. The team replaced the vacancies with former Eagles defensive coach Jonathan Gannon and now general manager Monti Ossenfort. One veteran would announced his retirement was defensive player J.J. Watt. The Cardinals lost a lot of players but signed a lot to make up for it, including LB Kyzir White and DL Carlos Watkins, among others.

Make/Miss the Playoffs: Miss

Los Angeles Rams

Season Recap: The Rams came in to this season as defending Super Bowl champions. After a 2-1 start, the team struggled to attempt to repeat as champs. After a Week 10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the Rams failed to match their 12-5 record. After a loss five weeks later, the Rams also failed to make the playoffs. Injuries to quarterback Matthew Stafford and All-Pros Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald put the team in a position to struggle.

Offseason: During the offseason, one most notable change was that Jalen Ramsey was traded to the Miami Dolphins. Otherwise, the Rams didn’t really make a lot of splashes in the offseason.

Make/Miss the Playoffs: Miss

Seattle Seahawks

Season Recap: For the first time since 2011, quarterback Russell Wilson was not on the roster after being traded to the Denver Broncos. Overall, the the Seahawks improved on their record from the season prior with a win over the Los Angeles Rams in a sweep for the first time since the 2013 season. After finishing 9-8, the Seahawks clinched the final NFC Wild Card spot.

In the playoffs, the Seahawks faced their rival the San Francisco 49ers. Even though the Seahawks were leading at the half, the 49ers rallied to defeat the Seahawks, 23-41.

Offseason: The Seahawks had a quiet offseason but sensational draft being able to obtain pieces, especially three extra thanks to a trade with Wilson and three draft picks, to build off of what they could do last season.

Make/Miss the Playoffs: Miss

San Francisco 49ers

Season Recap: Under the sixth season with head coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers had major progress from just the season prior. After a 3-4 start and notable season-ending injuries, it seemed like the 49ers were on their way to early draft picks. However, the team instead went on a 10-game winning streak, improving on their 10-7 record from the season prior. The team won the NFC West for the first time since 2019 and clinched a playoff spot, also sweeping the NFC West for the first time since 1997.

Through the playoffs, the 49ers beat their division rival Seattle Seahawks, 41-23 in the Wild Card round and defeated the Dallas Cowboys 19-12 in the Divisional round. However, the 49ers road to the Super Bowl came to an end when they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 31-7 in the NFC Championship. This season highlighted the emergence of “Mr. Irrelevant” Brock Purdy who started after Jimmy Garoppolo was injured.

Offseason: The upcoming season will mark the first since 2016 without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo on the roster. The team also lost a lot of players but was able to bring in replacements and keep their stacked roster.

Make/Miss the Playoffs: Make

Division Winner Prediction: 49ers

The 49ers make the most sense to win the division again. The team has a lot of talent and Shanahan and Purdy are building off of what they were able to do last season.