The NFC West looked like it might be one of the NFL’s strongest divisions in 2026, but the standings after Week 8 tell a messier story. San Francisco is the only team sitting above .500, while Seattle, Los Angeles, and Arizona are all packed into the middle and bottom of the race.
At the top, the 49ers are 6-1 and still in first place, with a perfect 3-0 mark inside the division. The Cardinals are in last at 3-5, though they remain within reach of the teams ahead of them.
Here’s where things stand right now in the NFC West:
San Francisco 49ers, 6-1 (3-0 division)
Seattle Seahawks, 4-4 (1-1 division)
Los Angeles Rams, 4-4 (0-2 division)
Arizona Cardinals, 3-5 (1-2 division)
Seattle and Los Angeles haven’t met yet this season, and the Seahawks hold the edge in the standings because of their better division record.
Week 8 brought a mixed bag across the division. San Francisco was idle, using its bye after taking its first loss in Week 7.
Seattle, meanwhile, went down Monday night in a 34-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. The Seahawks managed only 252 total yards and converted just 1 of 11 third-down chances, all while playing without left tackle Charles Cross and defensive tackle Leonard Williams.
The Rams got the weekend’s cleanest result, even if the offense wasn’t exactly humming. They put up just 281 yards but still beat the winless LA Chargers 24-9. Los Angeles intercepted Justin Herbert twice, Matthew Stafford threw a touchdown pass and was picked off once, and Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 129 rushing yards.
Arizona delivered the wildest finish of the bunch. The Cardinals fell behind the Dallas Cowboys by 14 points and benched starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett, then flipped the game behind Gardner Minshew’s three touchdown passes and pulled out a 33-30 overtime win.
Looking ahead to Week 9, San Francisco comes out of the bye and returns home to face the 4-4 Las Vegas Raiders. The Rams head on the road to play the 2-4-1 Washington Commanders. And the Cardinals and Seahawks will meet again, this time in Seattle.
In Other News...
Cardinals QB Workout Suddenly Puts The Focus On A Bigger Move
The Cardinals spent part of the week taking a closer look at depth options, bringing in seven players for tryouts that included one quarterback, three running backs and three receivers. The group featured a mix of NFL experience, with names such as Ulysses Bentley, Jermar Jefferson, Elijah Tau-Tolliver, Joseph Manjack and Jamari Thrash among those getting a look as Arizona keeps working through roster churn.
The timing matters because the club is already dealing with injuries at receiver, and the quarterback workout adds another layer to what has been a busy stretch. Arizona has been active in scanning the market for help, and a routine tryout day suddenly feels more like part of a larger roster picture, one that could still shift before the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Quarterback Plans
Arizonas quarterback room has been shifting for a while, and the latest move only sharpens the picture. Jacoby Brissett is on his way out, with Baltimore finalizing a trade to bring him in as it deals with injuries at the position. For the Cardinals, it is another sign that the pecking order has moved well beyond where Brissett stood when the season opened.
Brissett had already been pushed down to third string in Arizona, behind Gardner Minshew and Carson Beck, so the writing was on the wall even before the trade talks picked up. The deal is expected to be completed by the weekend, which means he will not be available for the Ravens Week 9 game, but it also leaves the Cardinals continuing to sort out what their quarterback depth chart looks like going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Suddenly Have A Shot At A Defensive Star Arizona Hates To Lose
The trade deadline chatter around Arizona has started to turn from background noise into something more substantive, and Budda Baker is right in the middle of it. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reported that the Cardinals safety is viewed around the league as a potential trade candidate, with teams such as the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars mentioned as possible suitors as clubs sort through their needs and Arizona weighs its own roster direction.
Baker is not the only name being floated, either, as the Cardinals contract situations and transition under center have put other veterans on the radar in recent days. Josh Sweat and Jacoby Brissett have also come up in the broader discussion, which is the kind of deadline buzz that can linger for a few days before it either hardens into action or fades away without a move. [Read more 🡒]