The NFC West looks like a two-team race at the top, and the Rams are the ones sitting in front when it’s all said and done.
Los Angeles is projected to go 14-3, with the season opening Thursday in Melbourne against San Francisco in the NFL’s first-ever game Down Under. The Rams won’t have Aaron Donald for their Week 1 matchup with the 49ers, but that doesn’t change the expected result in the standings. The prediction has LA handling business at “home” in Australia and rolling into the rest of the year with the kind of momentum that matches the hype.
Seattle is right there behind them at 13-4. The Seahawks open on September 9 against the New England Patriots, with a 24-20 win forecast in that game.
Their season series with the Rams is split 1-1, and the division comes down to Week 18 when Seattle visits Los Angeles. The Seahawks take the first meeting two weeks earlier, but the Rams get the final word at home.
Mike McDonald’s defense is expected to drive another strong season, while receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is projected to carry the offensive load.
San Francisco lands third at 8-9, and the numbers reflect how much injury trouble has already piled up. The 49ers open September 10 against the Rams, with Los Angeles predicted to win 24-17.
Even with all the roster issues, Kyle Shanahan’s work last season still stands out - especially the way he guided a Mac Jones-led team and a battered defense into the Division Round. But the outlook has turned quickly.
Receiver Ricky Pearsall is done for the year. Christian Kirk will start on injured reserve.
Mike Evans dealt with his own injuries over the summer. Defensive tackle Alfred Collins suffered a season-ending knee injury in Tuesday’s practice.
George Kittle and Nick Bosa are both banged up, too. The core of the 2023 NFC champs is another year older, and Brock Purdy missed half of last season.
Arizona is pegged for 4-13, and the gap between the Cardinals and the rest of the division looks wide. The source points to the organization picking up the pieces after releasing Kyler Murray this offseason. With a difficult schedule, the Cardinals could open 0-11 before a more manageable finish.
In Other News...
Rams Opener Just Took A Dramatic Turn Thanks To 49ers Injury Blow
The Rams Week 1 picture got a little clearer, and a lot more complicated, when San Francisco lost defensive tackle Alfred Collins for the season with a torn patellar tendon, as coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed. Collins went down in practice ahead of the opener in Australia, a setback that immediately changes the tone of a matchup already carrying plenty of intrigue between two NFC West rivals.
San Francisco is also dealing with injuries to Sam Okuayinonu, even as veterans George Kittle and Nick Bosa remain on track to suit up. Their availability gives the 49ers some stability, but the uncertainty around how much theyll be used leaves the Rams with a game plan that could look different by the time kickoff arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Just Sent Their Strongest Signal Yet About Melbourne
The Seahawks are leaning harder into their Australia push, announcing a strategic partnership with Collingwood that is designed to connect the two clubs fan bases in Australia and New Zealand. It is part of Seattles marketing rights under the NFL Global Markets program, another sign that the leagues international footprint is becoming more than a branding exercise.
Melbourne is already set to become a key stop in that effort, with the teams planning to co-host a kids AFL and NFL crossover flag football clinic there. For the Rams, it is another reminder that an NFC West rival is trying to build a broader identity far beyond its home market, and the reach of that move could matter well beyond one event or one summer. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Came Much Closer To A Different Pass Rush Splash Than Fans Knew
The Rams offseason pursuit of pass-rush help turned out to be broader than the eventual Myles Garrett deal suggested. Along with landing Garrett, Los Angeles also explored other big-name options, and NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported the team had Maxx Crosby on its radar before finalizing the move that brought Garrett to L.A.
Crosby ultimately stayed put with the Raiders after a proposed trade to the Ravens unraveled because of a failed physical, but the detail adds another layer to how aggressively the Rams chased impact talent up front. For a team always looking to tilt the line of scrimmage, it is a reminder that the splash they made was not the only one they tried to land. [Read more 🡒]