2026 NFL Divisional Previews | NFC West: Rams House?
Written by: Varun Sharma
Published: Wed Aug 12, 2026, 2:59 pm ET
Read Time: 11 minutes
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The NFL Season is less than 30 days away and I couldn't be more excited. Our breakdown of each NFL Division continues today with a look at one of the toughest divisions in all of football; the NFC West.
The Los Angeles Rams just reloaded, the Seattle Seahawks are fresh off a Super Bowl win and if the San Fransisco 49ers can just stay healthy; this division's wide open. We've got three of the best coaches in the NFL all in this division and each of the the three rosters are stacked full of talent. The odd team out is (always) the Arizona Cardinals, but with a reloaded offense this year; they might have some fun in the desert.
We've got a ton to talk about in this division, so let's not waste any time; let's talk football.
Odds to Win the NFC West
- Los Angeles Rams (-105)
- Seattle Seahawks (+210)
- San Francisco 49ers (+300)
- Arizona Cardinals (+6000)
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Los Angeles Rams
Offense
Los Angeles averaged 30.5 points per game last year, Matthew Stafford lead the league in passing yards, passing touchdowns and was completing over 65% of his passes. The Rams won 12 games and Stafford took home his first career NFL MVP Award.
Almost the entire offense is back, including last year's leader in receiving touchdowns; Davante Adams. This will be Adams second year with the Rams and after what we saw last year, it's no surprise Adams is back in Los Angeles on a new 2-year deal.
Puka Nacua was 2nd in receiving yards last year, finishing with over 1,700 yards, 10 touchdowns and he lead the league with 129 receptions.
Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for nearly 2,000 rush yards last year, the two scored 19 total touchdowns and both backs averaged 5+ yards per carry. Colby Parkinson lead TE group with 8 touchdowns but the big boys scored 14 in total.
This Rams offense was potent and it's why their former offensive coordinator's (Mike LaFleur) is now the Head Coach of another team in the NFC West.
Los Angeles hired from within, promoting former Offensive Assistant, Nathan Scheelhaase to OC. That's the only question mark surrounding this Rams offense and it really just feels like business as usual at SoFi.
Defense
As scary as this Rams offense was last year, this defense might just be even scarier this year. The biggest splash of the offseason was the Rams trading for the best defensive lineman in football, Myles Garrett.
Garrett set the single season record for sacks last year, recording 23 sacks on a Cleveland Browns team that won just 5 games. He was drafted #1 overall by the Browns in 2017 and outside of his rookie year; he's finished with double digit sacks every year since.
The Rams also added one of last year's top corners, Trent McDuffie; formerly of the Kansas City Chiefs. McDuffie joins a secondary that was graded as last year's top coverage group and looks to be bringing back most of it's core.
Los Angeles gave up the 10th fewest points in the NFL last year, they recorded the 8th most sacks and forced the 5th most turnovers. Now they enter this year with the best DE in football, a top CB and I'm sure we've all seen the videos of Aaron Donald back at the facility.
With no official reports about Donald's return yet, it feels preemptive to speak about what he could bring to this defense; but let's do it anyway.
Donald is 35 years old, he played 10 seasons in the NFL, made 9 Pro Bowls, 3 DPOY Awards and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014. He's been retired for two seasons, but looks like he could play tomorrow.
I have no idea what to expect if he does come back, but on an defensive line that includes Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett; even I might get a sack.
Projected Win Total
- Over 11.5 Wins (-145)
- Under 11.5 Wins (+115)
Additions
- Myles Garrett (DE)
- Trent McDuffie (CB)
- Jaylen Watson (CB)
Subtractions
- Cobie Durant (CB)
- Jared Verse (DE)
Seattle Seahawks
Offense
Last year's Super Bowl Champions and last year's biggest surprise; the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks come into this year fresh off the franchise's 4th Super Bowl appearance and 2nd Super Bowl win.
Sam Darnold was the answer in Seattle and he had this offense screaming last year. Darnold threw 25 touchdowns, he completed 68% of his passes and finished with the 5th most passing yards in the NFL.
Darnold's top receiver, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, finished the year as the NFL's receiving yards leader (1,793), he scored 10 touchdowns and got a big deal in the off-season to reward him.
The team's second leading receiver, Cooper Kupp, is still on the roster but the addition of Rashid Shaheed late last year was super interesting. Shaheed didn't have a great year with the Seahawks last year, but now with a full training camp, I'm excited to see how he can open up this defense.
The biggest change for this offense comes in the backfield and on the sidelines. Super Bowl MVP, Kenneth Walker is now a Kansas City Chief and it's why the Seahawks used their 1st round pick this year on Jadarian Price out of Notre Dame.
Zach Charbonnet is still the team's RB1, but Price average 6 yards per carry in his last year at Notre Dame, scoring 13 total touchdowns and will have a big part to play in this Seattle offense.
The big change on the sidelines comes at the OC spot for Seattle. Klint Kubiak's was tagged to be the new head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders and his replacement, Brian Fleury, is a first time OC.
This will be Darnold's third OC in as many years and sometimes that kind of inconsistency can spell disaster.
Defense
The Seahawks defense last year was elite. They ranked 1st in points allowed, 6th in yards allowed, 9th in sacks and 6th in forced turnovers. They were one of the hardest groups to score against and they did a great job of mitigating a lot Darnold's turnovers.
Darnold had 14 interceptions last year but the defense had 25 forced turnovers. Forced turnovers are one of the hardest thing to keep consistent on a year to year basis and it's even harder when you lose two huge pieces on defense.
Both Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen departed in the offseason and both players lead the Seahawks secondary in defensive snaps. The Seahawks did use the draft to bring in some new talent, using 3 of their 8 picks in the draft on corners and 5 of the 8 on defensive players.
Head Coach Mike Macdonald is a defensive specialist and the team returns Aden Durde at DC. This duo formed one of the toughest defenses in the NFL last year and despite a few new faces, I've still got incredibly high expectations for unit in Seattle.
Projected Win Total
- Over 10.5 Wins (-125)
- Under 10.5 Wins (-105)
Additions
- Dante Fowler Jr. (DE)
- Emmanuel Wilson (RB)
Subtractions
- Kenneth Walker III (RB)
- Boyle Mafe (DE)
- Coby Bryant (S)
- Riq Woolen (CB)
San Francisco 49ers
Offense
The San Francisco 49ers just can't stay healthy. Every single year this team enters the season with high expectations, a talented roster and one of the best football minds in the business on the sidelines. They just can't stay healthy.
On just the offensive side, the 49ers have already lost Ricky Pearsall to season ending knee surgery. Both new additions Christian Kirk and Mike Evans are week to week with hamstring/calf strains. Kyle Juszczyk suffered a fractured finger and Christian McCaffrey's missed two straight practices with 'tightness'.
George Kittle's coming back from an achilles injury, but looking great and it looks more than likely he'll be ready for Week 1.
On paper, this offense looks incredibly potent. Brock Purdy at QB, McCaffrey in the backfield and a receiving core that consists of Kittle, Evans, Kirk and now Deebo Samuel.
The problem is all four of those receivers are 30+ years old, McCaffrey just turned 30 and all four guys have been consistently injured over the last two seasons. The 49ers haven't been healthy through training camp and I just don't see how this team improved in the offseason.
Defense
Now let's talk about the injuries on this side of the ball. Nick Bosa's turning 30 in two months time, he's coming off a season ending ACL tear and he's been dealing with tendonitis.
Reports haven't indicated anything about him missing Week 1, but at this age and off such a big injury; I wouldn't be surprised if San Francisco played it cautiously with his return.
Elsewhere on this defense, Malik Mustapha is week to week with a hamstring strain and both Mykel Williams and Alfred Collins entered camp on the PUP list; but both are slated to return prior to Week 1.
The 49ers defense last year was beat up and it was also just bad. The unit had the 9th fewest forced turnovers, the fewest sacks in the NFL (20) and gave up just 21.8 points per game. Robert Salah was the brains behind this defense but he's now serving as Head Coach of the Tennessee Titans.
San Francisco brought in former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach, Raheem Morris, to take over at DC and I love the hire. This team might not be as top heavy (talent wise) on the defensive side, but they've got a great coach on the sidelines and a few guys that can get the job done.
Projected Win Total
- Over 10.5 Wins (+115)
- Under 10.5 Wins (-145)
Additions
- Mike Evans (WR)
- Deebo Samuel (WR)
- Dre Greenlaw (LB)
- Christian Krik (WR)
- Nate Hobbs (CB)
Subtractions
- Jauan Jennings (WR)
- Brian Robinson Jr. (RB)
- Kendrick Bourne (WR)
- Spencer Buford (RB)
Arizona Cardinals
Offense
Last and definitely least, the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals come into this year with Jacoby Brissett on a 1-year deal, a brand new head coach and the highest paid running back in all of football.
The Cardinals drafted Jeremiyah Love with the 3rd pick in this year's NFL Draft and quickly made him the highest paid running back in the league. Arizona picked up Carson Beck in the 3rd round and early reports from camp are that he's looked good.
I don't see Beck starting anytime soon, especially after the Cardinals committed to Brissett for one more year. Brissett threw for 3,300 yards last year, he had a career high 23 touchdown passes and he did it all in just 12 starts.
His top target, Trey McBride; finished 6th in receiving yards, caught 11 touchdowns and also set the single season record for receptions by a TE (126). Michael Wilson burst onto the scene last year, averaging 80 receiving yards per game with Brissett starting and catching 7 touchdowns in these games.
Marvin Harrison Jr. had a forgettable year and reports from training camp haven't been kind. I'm interested to see if the kid can bounce back and maybe live up to the name on the back of his jersey.
Defense
Defensively, I don't have a ton of hope for the Cardinals. The team lost Jalen Thompson at safety, Calais Campbell is back in Baltimore and reports have swirled about Josh Sweat wanting out of the desert.
The Cardinals hired Mike LaFleur to be the franchise's newest head coach and while he has a great offensive mind; I've got my reservations about this defense.
LaFleur is keeping Cardinals DC Nick Rallis on to hopefully build consistency, but with so many questions on that side of the ball; a little more experience might have helped.
The Cardinals gave up the 4th most points per game last year, they had the 5th fewest sacks and they finished middle of the pack in forced turnovers. This defense was bad last year, but it's hard to imagine them getting any worse.
Projected Win Total
- Over 4.5 Wins (+135)
- Under 5.5 Wins (-165)
Additions
- Isaac Seumalo (OL)
- Tyler Allgeier (RB)
- Kendrick Bourne (WR)
- Nakobe Dean (LB)
- Kwity Paye (DE)
- Andrew Billings (DT)
- Andrew Wingard (S)
Subtractions
- Kyler Murray (QB)
- Jalen Thompson (S)
- Calais Campbell (DL)
- Zay Jones (WR)
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