Deadspin | NFC West Primer: Are 49ers nonetheless a risk?

The San Francisco 49ers had been ravaged by accidents final season and went 6-11 only one 12 months after reaching the Super Bowl.

It’s not laborious to forecast {that a} wholesome Christian McCaffrey is the large ingredient wanted for a turnaround. But the 49ers did shake up the roster a bit and that can also reignite the fireplace of veteran holdovers.

There could be very little likelihood of San Francisco profitable simply 35 p.c of its video games for consecutive seasons after proudly owning the division for a number of seasons. But will probably be robust sledding for Brock Purdy and firm because the NFC West is shaping as much as be some of the aggressive divisions within the NFL.

The Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are each coming off 10-win campaigns and the Arizona Cardinals had been strongly within the playoff combine earlier than fading down the stretch. The Rams had been the division’s lone playoff participant final season and can once more contend for the division title.

The Seahawks are betting that Sam Darnold has turned the nook in his profession and can once more be one of many high quarterbacks within the league. He signed a three-year contract as an improve from departed Geno Smith.

The Cardinals misplaced 5 of their final seven video games final season in an premature stoop. Star security Budda Baker has performed in only one playoff recreation in eight seasons – nothing explains the state of Arizona Cardinals soccer higher than that.

Here’s how we envision the NFC West shaking out in 2025:

1. San Francisco 49ers (11-6 predicted document)

Schedule

W1 Sun Sep 7 at Seattle Seahawks

W2 Sun Sep 14 at New Orleans Saints

W3 Sun Sep 21 vs Arizona Cardinals

W4 Sun Sep 28 vs Jacksonville Jaguars

W5 Thu Oct 2 at Los Angeles Rams

W6 Sun Oct 12 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

W7 Sun Oct 19 vs Atlanta Falcons

W8 Sun Oct 26 at Houston Texans

W9 Sun Nov 2 at New York Giants

W10 Sun Nov 9 vs Los Angeles Rams

W11 Sun Nov 16 at Arizona Cardinals

W12 Sun Nov 23 vs Carolina Panthers

W13 Sun Nov 30 at Cleveland Browns

W14 Bye

W15 Sun Dec 14 vs Tennessee Titans

W16 Sun Dec 21 at Indianapolis Colts

W17 Sun Dec 28 vs Chicago Bears

W18 Sun Jan 3/4 vs Seattle Seahawks

Punching in: You cannot be a difference-making drive when you solely go well with for up 4 of 17 video games as Christian McCaffrey did final season. The star operating again handled calf, Achilles and knee accidents and he is already been bothered by a calf harm main as much as the 2025 season opener. McCaffrey rushed for a career-best 1,459 and scored a career-high 21 complete touchdowns in 2023 and San Francisco wants manufacturing near that this season.

Old face, similar place: It’s an attention-grabbing notion that Robert Saleh returning as defensive coordinator is likely to be the unit’s high addition of the offseason. Saleh was defensive coordinator beneath coach Kyle Shanahan from 2017-20 and the membership ranked within the high 5 in complete protection in every of his final two seasons and a stellar 2019 season ended within the Super Bowl. It would not harm that stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are pleased to have him again.

2. Seattle Seahawks (10-7)

Schedule

W1 Sun Sep 7 vs San Francisco 49ers

W2 Sun Sep 14 at Pittsburgh Steelers

W3 Sun Sep 21 vs New Orleans Saints

W4 Sun Sep 28 at Arizona Cardinals

W5 Sun Oct 5 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

W6 Sun Oct 12 at Jacksonville Jaguars

W7 Mon Oct 20 vs Houston Texans

W8 Bye

W9 Sun Nov 2 at Washington Commanders

W10 Sun Nov 9 vs Arizona Cardinals

W11 Sun Nov 16 at Los Angeles Rams

W12 Sun Nov 23 at Tennessee Titans

W13 Sun Nov 30 vs Minnesota Vikings

W14 Sun Dec 7 at Atlanta Falcons

W15 Sun Dec 14 vs Indianapolis Colts

W16 Dec 20 or Dec 21 vs Los Angeles Rams

W17 Dec 28 at Carolina Panthers

W18 Sun Jan 4 at San Francisco 49ers

Travelin’ Man Sam: Darnold is together with his fifth workforce in eight seasons since being the No. 3 general choose within the 2018 draft by the New York Jets. Last season was the primary time Darnold performed like a excessive choose as he excelled within the Minnesota Vikings’ system and handed for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns to go along with 12 interceptions. The Seahawks have guess $55 million in assured cash that Darnold generally is a drive of their system.

Still a whole lot of tread: Seattle added receiver Cooper Kupp (age 32) and defensive finish DeMarcus Lawrence (age 33) within the offseason whereas feeling each veterans have quite a bit within the tank. Kupp as soon as had one of many high receiving seasons of all-time — 145 catches for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns for Los Angeles — however he has seldom been wholesome since and the Rams moved on. Lawrence spent 11 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and was a star final decade earlier than manufacturing decreased in current seasons.

3. Los Angeles Rams (9-8)

Schedule

W1 Sun Sep 7 vs Houston Texans

W2 Sun Sep 14 at Tennessee Titans

W3 Sun Sep 21 at Philadelphia Eagles

W4 Sun Sep 28 vs Indianapolis Colts

W5 Thu Oct 2 vs San Francisco 49ers

W6 Sun Oct 12 at Baltimore Ravens

W7 Sun Oct 19 at Jacksonville Jaguars (London)

W8 Bye

W9 Sun Nov 2 vs New Orleans Saints

W10 Sun Nov 9 at San Francisco 49ers

W11 Sun Nov 16 vs Seattle Seahawks

W12 Sun Nov 23 vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

W13 Sun Nov 30 at Carolina Panthers

W14 Sun Dec 7 at Arizona Cardinals

W15 Sun Dec 14 vs Detroit Lions

W16 Thu Dec 18 at Seattle Seahawks

W17 Sun Dec 28 vs Atlanta Falcons

W18 Sun Jan 4 vs Arizona Cardinals

Durability in query: That ailing again Matthew Stafford has been coping with may very well be the factor that derails the Rams. Stafford is saying he is prepared for the season and looking out ahead to bodily play however he is 37 and never the Ironman he was earlier in his profession. Veteran Jimmy Garoppolo is the backup and he is certainly a succesful participant however the Los Angeles offense depends on the talents of Stafford

Quite a catch?: The Rams added 32-year-old receiver Davante Adams and he figures to need to show there’s quite a bit left in his tank. He break up final season with the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets and caught 85 passes for 1,063 yards and eight TDs regardless of not having the affect he did over the earlier 4 seasons. The duo of Adams and Puka Nacua (184 catches in two season) definitely will trigger sleepless nights for defensive coordinators.

4. Arizona Cardinals (9-8)

Schedule

W1 Sun Sep 7 at New Orleans Saints

W2 Sun Sep 14 vs Carolina Panthers

W3 Sun Sep 21 at San Francisco 49ers

W4 Thu Sep 25 vs Seattle Seahawks

W5 Sun Oct 5 vs Tennessee Titans

W6 Sun Oct 12 at Indianapolis Colts

W7 Sun Oct 19 vs Green Bay Packers

W8 Bye

W9 Mon Nov 3 at Dallas Cowboys

W10 Sun Nov 9 at Seattle Seahawks

W11 Sun Nov 16 vs San Francisco 49ers

W12 Sun Nov 23 vs Jacksonville Jaguars

W13 Sun Nov 30 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

W14 Sun Dec 7 vs Los Angeles Rams

W15 Sun Dec 14 at Houston Texans

W16 Sun Dec 21 vs Atlanta Falcons

W17 Sat Dec 27 at Cincinnati Bengals

W18 Sun Jan 4 at Los Angeles Rams

Breakout marketing campaign division: There was a time when a rookie catching 62 passes for 885 yards and eight touchdowns was serenaded over his stellar first-year efficiency. But within the case of wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., there have been many pundits feeling he did not carry out as much as his lofty label because the No. 4 general alternative. Harrison topped 100 yards simply twice and totaled beneath 50 on 10 events.

Sweat within the desert: Adding defensive finish Josh Sweat to pump up the go rush was a stellar thought even when it prices $76.4 million over 4 years. But that is one of many perks that include recording 2.5 sacks in a Super Bowl victory as Sweat did for the Philadelphia Eagles final season. Sweat had a career-best 11 sacks in 2022 when Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon was Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator.

–Field Level Media