Rams try to hold serve against Seahawks, 49ers in NFC West

Rams try to hold serve against Seahawks, 49ers in NFC West

WRITTEN BY
TADD HAISLOP


In many ways, the NFC West in 2019 features new wrinkles that will reshape the division standings as the season progresses. The most notable, of course, are the quarterback developments in San Francisco and Arizona, two bottom-feeder teams from a year ago that have reason for optimism centered around their passers.

But, at the same time, the NFC West in 2019 could be more of the same. The Rams, winners of the division in each of the last two seasons, remain loaded in the wake of their Super Bowl run. And at the risk of being overly simplistic, as long as the Seahawks have Russell Wilson making plays at a Pro-Bowl level, Seattle will remain a contender.

The two key wild cards in the NFC West are the aforementioned 49ers and Cardinals offenses. Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyler Murray both cracked SN's list of the QBs with most to prove in 2019, albeit for different reasons. Their successes or failures, combined with the staying power of the Rams and Seahawks, will define this season in the division.


Based on SN's picks for the entire 2019 NFL season, here are our predictions for the NFC West.

NFL predictions 2019: NFC West


Los Angeles Rams
The Rams essentially entered 2019 with a "run it back" mentality. The key pieces of their Super Bowl team return and are supplemented by free-agent signees Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews, necessary additions to a defense that ranked 20th in points allowed per game (24.0) last season.

Save for the shaky knee situation with star (and highly paid) running back Todd Gurley, there is no reason to anticipate any kind of drop-off from an offense that ranked second in the NFL with 32.9 points per game last season. All of LA's key personnel remains intact and ready to thrive with some Sean McVay magic.

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