As July comes to a close, football season gets closer and closer, creeping up with every passing week. It’s never too early to discuss some NFL, so let’s dabble with another 2024 NFC West Division Preview covering everything you need to know for this upcoming season. Here are some divisions we have already covered!
- AFC West 2024 Preview
- AFC North 2024 Preview
- NFC East 2024 Preview
As we look at the NFC West today, can anyone take the crown from the San Francisco 49ers who have won this division two times in a row? Let’s get right into it!
NFC West Division History
Can the 49ers win a 3rd straight NFC West Division Title?
The 49ers have won two straight NFC West Division Titles, but all 4 teams have claimed the West in the past decade. In fact, the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers have all won it 3 times in the past 10 seasons, leaving the Cardinals to claim the one outlier year. Here’s the specific winners over the last 10 years!
Last 10 NFC West Champions
* Super Bowl Champs
- 2023: San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
- 2022: San Francisco 49ers (13-4)
- 2021: Los Angeles Rams (12-5)*
- 2020: Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
- 2019: San Francisco 49ers (13-3)
- 2018: Los Angeles Rams (13-3)
- 2017: Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
- 2016: Seattle Seahawks (10-5-1)
- 2015: Arizona Cardinals (13-3)
- 2014: Seattle Seahawks (12-4)
The 49ers have dominated this division for a long time, winning 22 Titles in their franchise history. The Rams are next in line with 16 of their own and yes, that includes 3 since 2017, but those are their only 3 titles since 2004. Maybe the move to LA was good to switch things up?
The Seahawks and Cardinals joined the new NFC West for the 2002 NFL Season, and clearly they had some catching up to do. One of these teams has done a good job at it, the other has not. Seattle has won 9 Division Titles in their 22 year history with this group of 4 teams. The Cardinals won back to back titles in 2008 and 2009 and again in 2015, but other than that, they have not made a lot of headlines since joining.
But enough history, let’s talk about this year!
NFC West 2024 Betting Odds
Can Deebo Samuel stay healthy this year for the 49ers?
Odds to Win the NFC West
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- San Francisco 49ers (-210)
- Los Angeles Rams (+325)
- Seattle Seahawks (+750)
- Arizona Cardinals (+1200)
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As the odds will tell you, Vegas clearly thinks this is the 49ers division to lose, and I’ve got to admit I’m right there with them. However, there are certainly some question marks surrounding the Super Bowl Runner-Ups. But we will get to them here in a minute. Let’s start at the bottom of the totem pole, with the Odds on Underdog, the Arizona Cardinals.
NFC West 2024 Team Previews
James Connor should get plenty of work on the ground this season
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are extremely excited about the possibility of getting Kyler Murray for a full season. He only played 8 in 2023 and 11 in 2022, so the though of having him for all 17 is huge. Plus, there were some exciting moves made this offseason on offense. The Cardinals released Hollywood Brown who signed with the Chiefs, but drafted Marvin Harrison Jr with the 4th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and signed Zay Jones who will bring some veteran leadership to this WR room.
Harrison Jr and Jones team up with Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch to round out the receiving core, and James Connor is still the lead in the backfield, despite Arizona drafting RB Trey Benson out of Florida State. They have a newly shaped offense, and Arizona may produce some points, but this team is still heavily lacking on defense.
Second Round pick Max Melton is looking to start at CB alongside Sean Murphy-Bunting who just signed a 3 year deal. Safety Budda Baker helps the secondary as well, but I see too many issues in the front 7 for the Cardinals to really do any damage, especially in a division like this. Nearly anything will be an improvement for Arizona considering their 4-13 record last season, but I do not see them finishing anywhere other than 4th in the NFC West this year.
Geno Smith may have to defend his starting spot after Seattle signed Sam Howell
Seattle Seahawks
Now, Geno Smith will more than likely be the starter, but you don’t just trade for Sam Howell for nothing. Smith has been the starter in Seattle for two seasons now, and he will turn 34 on Thursday Night Football in Week 6 against the 49ers. Point being, he’s getting old, his experimental time in Seattle may be over, and the Seahawks may see something they can work with in Sam Howell.
Regardless, they have bigger fish to fry before they can truly compete to me. Seattle ranked 25th in Points Allowed last year and didn’t make too many good additions in my opinion. They released some veterans in Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, but I’m not sure they replaced their production on the field. The Seahawks have an incredible receiving core in DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njiba, however I don’t believe they are capable of scoring 28-30 points per game, which they might need to do in order to win football games this season.
Kenneth Walker III has solidified himself as a lead back, but Seattle will probably have to throw to move the ball, assuming they spend plenty of time playing from behind. I see this season being a feeler to try and get Howell comfortable in this system, with Smith showing him the ropes for the first few weeks. Eventually, I think Howell takes over the starting job as the Seahawks recognize Geno will not get them where they want to be.
The deck is stacked against the Seahawks, and I could actually see them fighting with Arizona for last place in the NFC West.
Can Puka Nacua keep up the same offensive production as last year?
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams finished 10-7 last season, 2nd in the NFC West, and lost to the Detroit Lions in the Wild Card round last playoffs. The offense came alive last season thanks to a couple of young players having breakout seasons. Running Back Kyren Williams exploded in his sophomore season for over 1,300 all purpose yards and 15 total TDs. Rookie wideout Puka Nacua posted an insane 105-1,486-6 stat line for his first year, and alongside Cooper Kupp, the Rams could thrive offensively. Demarcus Robinson and Tutu Atwell round out the WR core, and Stafford might have another target out of the backfield besides Williams.
Los Angeles drafted former Michigan RB Blake Corum to serve as the 2nd back in this offense, and he certainly can be a receiving threat. The Rams were 10th in passing yards, 11th in rushing yards, and 8th in scoring last season. The offense wasn’t the issue, the defense was.
The Rams allowed 20+ points in 12/18 games they played last year, giving up over 22.2 per game. Their biggest defensive signing was CB Tre’Davious White to help a depleted secondary, and 1st round EDGE Jared Verse will be expected to make an immediate impact on the field. While they did make some improvements where needed, I do not think the Rams have quite enough to compete with San Francisco for the NFC West Title.
Will Brandon Aiyuk be traded before the NFL season begins?
San Francisco 49ers
Quite frankly, the 49ers might be the most talented team on both sides of the ball in the entire NFL, let alone just this division. However, there could be several issues this year that weren’t around in the past, starting with their Top wideout.
Despite his recent request to be traded, Brandon Aiyuk has reported to training camp. No serious offers have risen yet, but it will be interesting to see who he plays for in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season. Another stud Niner is actually holding out from training camp, LT Trent Williams. The All-Pro Lineman is looking to renegotiate his contract, and thus has yet to join the team.
If those two situations work out, the 49ers certainly have another Super Bowl run in them. All the usual offensive weapons should return, and defensively they signed DE Leonard Floyd who adds some strength to the pass rush. In my eyes, this team from San Francisco is even more complete than my beloved Chiefs, yet Aiyuk and Williams are huge questions marks going forward regarding the core of the team. Regardless, this is their division to lose, and I see the capturing a third straight NFC West Title.
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- NFC East 2024 Preview
- AFC West 2024 Preview
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