The NFC West is the most balanced division from top to bottom in the entire NFL. All of these teams have either added players during the offseason or have key players coming back from injury. I predict one of these teams will be in the NFC championship game or the Super Bowl, likely the Los Angeles Rams in my opinion.

1. Los Angeles Rams– Losing Cam Akers for the season due to injury is tough for the Rams, but that won’t impact them much as people think. They did lose some key defensive players such as Michael Brockers, John Johnson and Troy Hill but having Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey more than makes up for these losses. Matthew Stafford is Sean McVay’s dream at QB and he is surround by weapons all over the field. These guys are going to put up lots of points and look identical to the Rams team that went to the Super Bowl in 2019. These guys are my pick to get to the NFC Championship and I wouldn’t be surprised if they make a Super Bowl appearance or a couple in the near future.

Prediction: 12-5

2. Arizona Cardinals– After the Cleveland Browns, I believe the Cards have the best group of wide receivers in the league. An argument could be made for the Rams as well after signing DeSean Jackson to go with Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and company. The Cardinals could also prove to have one of the best running back duos in the league this year with James Conner being added to the roster and Chase Edmonds who almost hit 1,000 rushing yards last season. The defensive side is also stacked at almost every position. I look for this team to turn the corner this season.

Prediction: 11-6

3. Seattle Seahawks– It’s always hard to count Russell Wilson out of the mix but the defense is my concern for the Seahawks. The first three games on their schedule are the Colts, Titans, and Vikings which all have solid to high powered scoring offenses and can put up points. The Seahawks will be one of the most dynamic offensive teams without a doubt, but the question is can they stop anybody?

Prediction: 10-7

4. San Francisco 49ers- The quarterback battle between Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance is going to be fun to watch. My only concern is there is no certainty about the most important position on your team while the other division opponents are set. Kyle Shanahan is deemed an offensive genius so he can figure it out. The 49ers were hit with lots of injuries last season and were very mediocre at best. This year staying healthy is the name of the game for this team. They have all the pieces at every position on offense and retooled their defense since the Super Bowl appearance in 2020. I have them last because with all of the returning players and moving pieces I think it will take some time to gel. I’d really pick them to compete next season.

Prediction: 8-9