NFL predictions 2019: Rams try to hold serve against Seahawks, 49ers in NFC West

Tadd Haislop

NFL predictions 2019: Rams try to hold serve against Seahawks, 49ers in NFC West image

In many ways, the NFC West in 2019 features new wrinkles that will reshape the division standings as the season progresses. The most notable, of course, are the quarterback developments in San Francisco and Arizona, two bottom-feeder teams from a year ago that have reason for optimism centered around their passers.

But, at the same time, the NFC West in 2019 could be more of the same. The Rams, winners of the division in each of the last two seasons, remain loaded in the wake of their Super Bowl run. And at the risk of being overly simplistic, as long as the Seahawks have Russell Wilson making plays at a Pro-Bowl level, Seattle will remain a contender.

The two key wild cards in the NFC West are the aforementioned 49ers and Cardinals offenses. Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyler Murray both cracked SN's list of the QBs with most to prove in 2019, albeit for different reasons. Their successes or failures, combined with the staying power of the Rams and Seahawks, will define this season in the division.

2019 NFL PREDICTIONS:
Standings, playoff projections, Super Bowl pick

Based on SN's picks for the entire 2019 NFL season, here are our predictions for the NFC West.

NFL predictions 2019: NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

With a rookie coach in Kliff Kingsbury and another rookie quarterback for 2019 in Murray, the Cardinals have done everything they could to make their 2018 season a desert mirage. Along with Arizona's hiring of Kingsbury and its drafting of Murray, the Cardinals will have at least eight new starters overall.

The personnel moves were necessary as Kingsbury goes to more a wide-open, versatile offense and new defensive coordinator Vance Joseph reverts that unit back to an aggressive 3-4 scheme. For a complete-but-quick reboot, the Cardinals enjoyed a strong offseason of upgrades.

Los Angeles Rams

The Rams essentially entered 2019 with a "run it back" mentality. The key pieces of their Super Bowl team return and are supplemented by free-agent signees Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews, necessary additions to a defense that ranked 20th in points allowed per game (24.0) last season.

Save for the shaky knee situation with star (and highly paid) running back Todd Gurley, there is no reason to anticipate any kind of drop-off from an offense that ranked second in the NFL with 32.9 points per game last season. All of LA's key personnel remains intact and ready to thrive with some Sean McVay magic.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are coming off a disappointing 4-12 season. But because many of their struggles were tied to the early season-ending knee injury suffered by Garoppolo, they made a handful of calculated moves to improve in 2019. A massive overhaul was not necessary.

General manager John Lynch took advantage of the No. 2 overall pick and drafted Nick Bosa, doubling down on the 49ers' edge-rush upgrade after trading for Dee Ford. While the defensive focus was on the front seven, the offensive tweaking was made with the intention of improving the skill positions around Garoppolo.

Seattle Seahawks

Joke's on us for thinking Seattle would struggle last season. Lesson learned, especially for a team that went 10-6 and could be even better in 2019. The Seahawks think they finally have their offensive line settled. Their running game is versatile. Their defense, though not exactly LOB 2.0, is more than serviceable.

Last year, the meshing of coach Pete Carroll, defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer yielded surprisingly strong results. This year, with some continuity now on their side along with strong personnel, the Seahawks aren't sneaking up on anybody.

2019 NFL PREDICTIONS:
AFC East | AFC West | AFC North | AFC South
NFC East | NFC West | NFC North | NFC South

NFC West: 2018 picks

  1. Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
  2. Seattle Seahawks (8-8)
  3. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)
  4. Arizona Cardinals (3-13)

There is a lot to love about the Seahawks and 49ers this season. There is also a lot to hate about their schedules. Beyond the likely cannibalism in the division, with the NFC West facing the AFC North and NFC South this season, Seattle must travel to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Atlanta and Carolina. San Francisco draws those teams at home, but it has to go to Baltimore and New Orleans.

The Rams are still the team in this division that is best equipped to deal with so many tough matchups. That schedule — LA has to go to Cleveland, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Dallas outside of its division — is the reason we have the Rams projected to drop off by a couple games from last year's 13-3 record but still win the NFC West.

Contributing: Vinnie Iyer

Tadd Haislop

Tadd Haislop is the Associate NFL Editor at SportingNews.com.