NFC West

Is the NFC West the most balanced division in the NFL?  Probably.  Over the past 10 seasons every team but the Cardinals has won multiple division titles (3 each for the Rams and Seahawks and the past 2 for the Niners).  But does that mean any team  can keep up with the 49ers this year? Spoiler Alert – No.  

San Francisco – Red did not leave his heart anywhere in California and certainly not wherever it is the Niners play these days.  Santa Something or Another?  Everyone wants to talk about Christian McCaffrey, but it is really the Niners bruising defense that Red thinks makes the difference.  Sure C-Mack is the best offensive player in the league not named Mahomes, but he gets a lot of help with a great O line (camp holdout Trent Williams is  OMG good – just watch him for a couple of series), an excellent TE in Kittle and the surprising Brock Purdy – clearly the best draft pick since Tom Brady.  Put it all together and the Niners are probably the most balanced team in the league.  It’s the Niners division to lose.  And they don’t  Niners are outstanding at 14-3.

Seattle –  Will Geno last the season? Or will Sam Howell replace him sooner or later?  The question for the Falconos Marinos (Reds favorite Spanish language translation of an NFL team mascot – followed not too closely by El Vaqueros de Dallas) is offensive firepower.  They were bottom quarter in points scored in 2023, will they improve on that?  Red believes – he doesn’t know why – but Red believes.  But he doesn’t believe the Hawks will make the playoffs.  9-8.

Los Angeles – And now pathetically Red has to clarify that he is talking about the well-traveled Rams.  You know, Red liked it when the second largest city in the USA did not have a pro football team – and now it has two.  He also like it when there were two Germanys but that is another story.  Two young players carried the Rams to a 10-7 season. Puka Nacua with almost 1500 receiving yards and Kyren Willaims with 1300 total yards and 15 – count ‘em 15 touchdowns.  Geez.  Nacua will be getting more attention this season but teams still have to worry about Cooper Kupp on the other side. Red has never been a huge Stafford fan and the dude is looking a bit long in the tooth (12 years in Detroit will do that to a man), but if he can stay upright he knows where to put the ball.  Defense is the big issue for the Rams and will keep them from serious contention for the NFC West Title.  Rams are a 9-8 team.  

Arizona –  Can Red just take a pass here?  5-12.