The NFL season is around the corner, and all 32 teams are on equal footing for now. Let’s take a look at the past season for each NFC West team, including predictions for each team heading into the 2024-25 season.
NFC West BetMGM
Best Bets
NFC Outright Winner: 49ers (+275)
AP Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jared Verse (+1100)
NFC West – Top 2: Seahawks (+190)
Los Angeles Rams
Season Recap
This is the Rams’ 86th season in the NFL and seventh under head coach Sean McVay. Despite struggling in the first half of the season and declining with injuries and a 3-6 record, the Rams went 7-1 in their final eight games, improving on their 5-12 record from the season prior after a Week 13 win against the Cleveland Browns. A loss from the Seattle Seahawks on New Year’s Eve helped the Rams return to the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Rams lost to the Detroit Lions in the Wild Card Round.
Major Offseason Moves
The Rams lost veteran legend Aaron Donald and DL Michael Brockers due to retirement. The team did pick up QB Jimmy Garoppolo, RB Boston Scott and OL Blake Larson. With the 19th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Rams selected Florida State DE Jared Verse.
Make/Miss Playoffs: Miss
San Francisco 49ers
Season Recap
This was the 49ers’ 74th season in the NFL and seventh under general manager/head coach tandem John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. For the first time since 2013 and 2016, the 49ers were without safety Jimmie Ward and QB Jimmy Garoppolo. A 5-0 start left them and the Eagles as the final undefeated teams. They lost three games in a row but turned around and won six games after their bye week, clinching a playoff berth by Week 14. They soon clinched the NFC first seed for the first time since 2019, but didn’t improve on their 13-4 record from the previous season. After a close 24-21 win in the divisional playoffs against the Greeen Bay Packers, the 49ers advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the fourth time in five seasons. The 49ers came back from a 24-7 halftime deficit to win 34-31, setting an NFL record for overcoming the largest halftime deficit in a championship game. The 49ers faced the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, where the 49ers lost in a close overtime game, 25-22.
Offseason Moves
The 49ers lost a few defensive guys in the offseason, letting go of DEs Randy Gregory and Chase Young as well as DT Javon Kinlaw. They did, however, pick up CB Rock Ya-Sin, LB De’Vondre Campbell and QB Joshua Dobbs. With the 31st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the 49ers picked up Florida WR Ricky Pearsall.
Make/Miss Playoffs: Make
Seattle Seahawks
Season Recap
This was the Seahawks’ 48th season in the NFL and 14th and final under the head coach/general manager tandem of Pete Carroll and John Schneider. The Seahawks matched their 9-8 record from the previous year, but it was not enough to qualify for the playoffs after finishing behind the 49ers and Rams. Despite their 5-2 start, key injuries plagued Geno Smith, Kenneth Walker III, DK Metcalf and Devon Witherspoon, meaning the Seahawks lost five of their next six games. The team tried to make magic happen, but unfortunately could not do enough to guarantee them a playoff spot – leading to Carroll and Schneider leaving the organization.
Offseason Moves
The Seahawks recently let go of CB Ro Torrence, DE Rason Williams and RB TaMerik Williams. They did sign RB Ricky Person Jr., T/G Christian Haynes and LB Tyrice Knight. With the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seahawks selected Texas DT Byron Murphy II.
Make/Miss Playoffs: Make
Arizona Cardinals
Season Recap
This was the Cardinals’ 104th season in the NFL and first under head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort. The Cardinals matched their 4-13 record from the season prior after an upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17. For the first time since 2019, DeAndre Hopkins was not on the roster. After the team’s Week 11 loss to the Houston Texans, they were guaranteed their second consecutive losing season, soon following a second consecutive double digit loss season. After losing in Week 15, the Cardinals were eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season.
Offseason Moves
The Cardinals let go of WR Kaden Davis, CB Quavian White and S Quantrezz Knight. They did pick up WR Zay Jones, WR Rondale Moore and CB Michael Ojemudia. With the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Cardinals selected Ohio State WR Marvin Harrison Jr. and selected Missouri DE Darius Robinson with the 27th overall pick.
Make/Miss Playoffs: Miss
Division Winner Prediction
I think it goes without saying that the San Francisco 49ers have some unfinished business and want to get back to where they were last year. The team is very strong already and can easily run away with the division given the weakness of the division.
First & Jenn 
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