NFL Divisional Previews: NFC West

 


We're rapidly approaching the 2023 NFL Season. To get ready, I'm previewing the teams division by division. Today, I turn my gauze to the NFC West.

San Francisco 49ers:
2022 Record: 13-4, Lost in NFC Championship Game
2023 Outlook: The 49ers still have one of the best rosters in the league. The question remains who plays quarterback. Once Upon a Time Trey Lance was drafted to be the future of the franchise. That seems to be off the table now, and the question is if he even remains on the roster or gets traded. It seems Brock Purdy is the starter, but will he be healthy? Sam Darnold is on the roster, but is he the guy they want to lean on. Outside of quarterback, the 49ers have a great roster. Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle makes for a spectacular core. And the 49ers' defense remains impressive.
2023 Prediction: I think the 49ers win the west, finish as a top seed and make another deep run.

Seattle Seahawks:
2022 Record: 9-8, Lost in the Wild Card Round
2023 Outlook: The Seahawks played above predictions in 2022. This off-season, the Seahawks locked up Geno Smith and added rookie receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back Zach Charbonnett to an already impressive offense. Is it enough? Can the Seahawks find lightening in a bottle again and make the playoffs? I'm not so sure. The team started strong in 2022 and faded some down the stretch. I think they'll remain in somewhat the same win range.
2023 Prediction: Nine wins feels about right. That puts them in the Wild Card race.

Los Angeles Rams:
2022 Record: 5-12
2023 Outlook: The Rams are in a transition. Post Super Bowl, the wheels fell off in 2022 and the team suffered a lot of injuries. They are caught in the midst of a transition now, with some veteran pieces but not enough for you to feel like they're a legitimate contender. And yet, with Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald on a team coached by Sean McVay, you can't count them out. Can the young pieces step up? Can Stafford stay healthy? Can they get enough done on defense? Those questions will define the season. I suspect the Rams will make some more big changes this next off-season.
2023 Prediction: I think the Rams are a six to eight win team that will have moments but fall short of the playoffs.

Arizona Cardinals:
2022 Record: 4-13
2023 Outlook: The Cardinals collapsed in 2022. After making the playoffs in 2021, the team fell out of sync and that led to changes at coach and general manager. In addition, Kyler Murray tore his ACL in December. Will he be ready to go as the season begins? In October? November? Never? That will have a big impact. The team also moved on from DeAndre Hopkins. The Cardinals' whole roster is a work in progress.
2023 Prediction: I don't think Murray will be ready until late in the season at best. The Cardinals don't have a great roster and I suspect they're a candidate for the No. 1 overall pick once again.

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