State of the NFC West: How Each Divisional Foe Can Threaten the 49ers Playoff Hopes

Halfway through the 2022 NFL regular season, the playoff picture is starting to come into focus.

Specifically in the NFC, where the Philadelphia Eagles reign supreme at 8-0, the last remaining undefeated team this season. Despite the clear-cut favorite, the 2022 divisional races are still some of the closest in the last few years, with all teams holding two wins or more after nine weeks.

The NFC West is one of those divisions, with the Seattle Seahawks (6-3) only two games over the second-place San Francisco 49ers (4-4). Other teams also lurk with the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals both having three wins apiece. And while each team has its own set of challenges (the latter two specifically), it’s no cakewalk for the 49ers to get a playoff berth in 2023.

With that being said, let’s break down how the NFC West could halt the Red & Gold’s postseason plans halfway through the regular season.

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Arizona Cardinals

Record: 3-6

Remaining Schedule: At Rams, Home vs. 49ers, Home vs. Chargers, Home vs. Patriots, At Broncos, Home vs. Buccaneers, At Falcons, At 49ers

Last Game: L vs Seahawks, 31-21

The last time we did this the Arizona Cardinals were one of the most dysfunctional teams in the NFL. A month later, that statement couldn’t be more true.

Sitting at 3-6 with their Bye Week on the horizon, the Cardinals’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9 was indicative of their entire season: A few moments of brilliance coupled with pure chaos.

Scoring a touchdown on their first drive of the game, Arizona stalled out after that, either punting or turning the ball over on every single possession until the fourth quarter. Trailing 24-14, quarterback Kyler Murray leads the Cardinals on a 75-yard drive down the field, finding tight end Zach Ertz for the touchdown from six yards out with four minutes to go in the game.

Unfortunately, it was too little too late, as QB Geno Smith and Seattle marched right back down and scored with less than 90 seconds to go in the game, 31-21.

Using all of their luck on the previous possession, a turnover on downs followed for the Cardinals.

Arizona now sits at 3-6 on the season, having two divisional tests in the next few weeks with the Rams on the road and the 49ers in Mexico City. While their schedule isn’t too difficult (only two teams over .500 left to face), it’s hard to imagine Arizona getting their act together midseason.

Injuries have caused them problems all season, and the offensive line is in shambles with Billy Price taking snaps in place of Rodney Hudson. And of course, the looming tension between the quarterbacks and the head coach as Murray and Kliff Kingsbury seems sick of one another by the end of each contest.

Bundle that all together, plus the midseason Hard Knocks footage starting up this week, and you get one of the most dysfunctional teams in the league.

Los Angeles Rams

Record: 3-5

Remaining Schedule: Home vs. Cardinals, At Saints, At Chiefs, Home vs. Seahawks, Home vs. Raiders, At Packers, Home vs. Broncos, At Chargers, At Seahawks

Last Game: L at Buccaneers, 16-13

Every game the Los Angeles Rams play this season, the more last season’s Super Bowl win looks fluky at best.

The 2022 Rams are downright bad, ranking last in points scored (118) according to Pro Football Focus. Their most recent loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the remnants of Tom Brady speak for themselves. Up 13-6 entering the fourth quarter, Los Angeles goes 0-4 on drives late Sunday, punting the ball three times in the final fifteen minutes.

While the Buccaneers have their own colossal problems, Brady is still at the helm, finding a way to win by driving down the field in 35 seconds to give Tampa Bay the lead with nine seconds left. That was all she wrote, 16-13, and the Rams are on a two-game losing streak.

Stuck with limited draft picks and top-heavy talent, the Blue & Gold weren’t constructed right this season. QB Matthew Stafford has a cast of average Joes besides All-Pro wideout Cooper Kupp, relying too heavily on him this season. The lack of cohesiveness has lead to lackluster offense and a non-existent run game.

The defense isn’t the same either, allowing the ninth-most points through the first half of the year.

It’s not all the team’s fault, injuries to Stafford have hampered him through the season, and the offensive line has been patchwork since former Pro Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth officially retired after last season.

Nevertheless, the Rams had higher expectations than their current record, looking like it could be a one-and-done for head coach Sean McVay and LA.

Seattle Seahawks

Record: 6-3

Remaining Schedule: At Buccaneers, Home vs. Raiders, At Rams, Home vs. Panthers, Home vs. 49ers, At Chiefs, Home vs. Jets, Home vs. Rams

Last Game: W at Cardinals, 31-21

The story of the season, the Seattle Seahawks are miraculously 6-3 and atop the NFC West.

Trading away franchise QB Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos in the offseason, Seattle was supposed to undergo a rebuilding year, with an eye on a potential franchise gunslinger in the top five of the NFL draft. Instead, journeyman quarterback Geno Smith and head coach Pete Carroll rallied up the troops to produce one of his best teams in the last five years, ranking third in points scored (210) this season.

Smith, 32, is both ninth in passing yards (1,924), and tied for fifth in passing TDs (13) through the first half of the season. In his third year with the Seahawks, his familiarity is what helps stabilize this youthful offense.

It’s not just Smith though, as the rookies have come out to play early on.

Rookie tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas have been immense to start the season, opening holes for former Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III to bust loose for a big gain.

On the defensive front, cornerback Tariq Wollen has had an outstanding debut year, tied for second in interceptions (4) and eleventh in pass break-ups (7). He notched four tackles against the Cardinals Sunday.

Throw in established star wideouts D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, Carroll has his squad on a four-game win streak with no sign of stopping anytime soon. Next week in Munich against the Bucs should be a test for Seattle, but one that is theirs for the taking, given Tampa’s season thus far.

It’ll be a dogfight until the end, but the Seahawks are the biggest threat to the 49ers’ playoff hopes this season.

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