The NFC West is shaping up to be the division to watch as we head into the 2026 NFL season. With the defending champions, a team boasting what many consider the league's best roster, and three teams that all made waves in the postseason last year, there's plenty of intrigue to go around.
Let's break down how each team stacks up in terms of interest as we approach the season kickoff.
No. 1: LA Rams
Leading the pack in the "Don't miss this bunch" category are the Los Angeles Rams. They're not just Super Bowl favorites; they're a team loaded with star power.
With Matthew Stafford, the ageless wonder, reigning as the league's MVP, and the recent acquisition of Myles Garrett, the Defensive Player of the Year, this team is primed for another headline-grabbing season. Coached by the ever-dynamic Sean McVay, the Rams have a knack for keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Add to that a stud cornerback and a roster that nearly clinched the title last year, and you've got a team that's must-watch TV.
No. 2: Seattle Seahawks
Next up, the defending champions, the Seattle Seahawks. While they might not have the glitzy allure of their LA counterparts, they’re anything but under the radar.
With a potential change in ownership on the horizon, the Seahawks are poised to make some noise. Under the guidance of Mike Macdonald, who’s already made a name for himself by winning 10 games in his first year and a championship in his second, the Seahawks are a force to be reckoned with.
Sam Darnold has led them to back-to-back 14-win seasons, and with talents like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a formidable young defense, they’re set to defend their crown with vigor.
No. 18: San Francisco 49ers
In the "still plenty to see" tier, we find the San Francisco 49ers. The addition of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans is a significant boost to an offense already under the strategic eye of Kyle Shanahan.
Evans will be a player to watch as the 49ers gear up for camp. Health and harmony will be key for this team, which has managed to stay competitive despite dealing with injuries.
With Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams returning to the fold and Christian McCaffrey as the linchpin of their offensive scheme, the Niners are poised to surprise.
No. 30: Arizona Cardinals
Finally, in the "watch at your own risk" category, sit the Arizona Cardinals. The quarterback situation is still a question mark, with rookie Carson Beck likely to get his chance as the season progresses.
Meanwhile, the running back room, featuring rookie Jeremiyah Love, offers some promise, but the defense remains a concern after last season’s struggles. First-year coach Mike LaFleur has his work cut out for him as he aims to steer the Cardinals in the right direction amidst contract disputes and rebuilding efforts.
As the NFC West prepares to take the field, each team brings its own brand of drama and potential. From the high-flying Rams to the defending champion Seahawks, the resilient 49ers, and the rebuilding Cardinals, this division promises to deliver a season full of excitement and surprises.
In Other News...
Sean McVay Faces A Defining Rams Backup QB Decision
The Rams quarterback room has become a quiet but meaningful camp storyline, with a backup job still up for grabs behind the starter. Stetson Bennett is in the middle of it after spending his first two seasons trying to carve out a role, while Ty Simpson enters with the kind of draft status that usually brings instant attention and pressure. For Sean McVay, it is less about headlines than timing, development and figuring out which player is best suited to step in if the depth chart gets tested.
Simpsons path is being handled carefully because the Rams do not want to rush a passer whose college rsum was still short on starting experience. Bennett, meanwhile, has the advantage of having been around the system longer and of already showing he can manage an offense at Georgia, even if his NFL rsum is still waiting for its first live snap. Add in the uncertainty around the veteran options, and this is becoming one of those decisions that says plenty about how the Rams want to build the position, even before the rest of the league fully notices. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Fans Wont Love This New Backup QB Update
Matthew Stafford is still expected to open the season as the Rams starting quarterback, but the conversation behind him has gotten a lot more interesting. Los Angeles already moved on from Jimmy Garoppolo and then used a first-round pick on Ty Simpson in the 2026 NFL Draft, a move that looked like it might finally settle the long-term quarterback picture behind Stafford.
Instead, the latest read on the depth chart suggests the backup job is not headed to the rookie. For a team leaning on a 38-year-old starter, that matters, and it leaves the Rams with a much different kind of QB succession plan than many fans probably imagined when Simpson arrived. [Read more 🡒]
Puka Nacua Could Be On Verge Of A Different Kind Of Season
Puka Nacua already proved in 2023 that he can handle the spotlight, piling up a record-setting rookie season before injuries slowed him over the next two years. Even with that interruption, the conversation around him has hardly cooled, because the Rams still view him as one of the most dangerous young receivers in the league when he is on the field and healthy.
Now the setup feels different again. Nacua is heading into a season with real leverage in front of him, and the ingredients around him suggest another big run could be coming: his growing trust with Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams drawing attention on the other side, and an offense with enough answers to keep defenses from keying on one target. If the health piece finally holds, the Rams may be looking at a year that pushes Nacua into an entirely new category. [Read more 🡒]