The NFC West piled up more wins than any other division last season, but Arizona was nowhere near the party.
The Cardinals stumbled to a 3-14 finish while the Seahawks, Rams and 49ers all won at least 12 games and reached at least the divisional round of the playoffs. Seattle then knocked off the Rams in the NFC title game and went on to win the Super Bowl, so the division’s success went far beyond the regular season.
That’s the backdrop for a Cardinals team facing a fresh start under new head coach Mike LaFleur, an uncertain quarterback situation and little outside belief that it can climb the standings in 2026. Meanwhile, the rest of the division looks loaded: the Seahawks have most of their core back, the 49ers are hoping for better health and the Rams added Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie in an offseason push for another run.
Still, Cardinals cornerback Will Johnson isn’t backing away from the challenge. Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio, he said he likes the chance “to go against the best every week” and sees the schedule as an opening to flip the script.
“I think we got a good opportunity in front of us to surprise a lot of people this year,” Johnson said. “They’re just continuing to try to stack the teams against us, but we gonna be ready when the time comes.”
Johnson also said LaFleur has done a good job of building a new culture in Arizona, with the hope that it leads to better results on the field even if the Cardinals still find themselves measured against the same tough division by season’s end.
In Other News...
Rams QB Debate Just Took A Dramatic Turn Around Stafford
Matthew Staffords new extension has settled at least one of the Rams biggest questions heading into the season, locking in the veteran quarterback as the starter for now. It also keeps the conversation centered where Sean McVay wants it, on Staffords play level and how long he can maintain it, rather than on a looming reset at the position. For a team that has spent plenty of time thinking about life after its Super Bowl quarterback, that clarity matters.
Ty Simpsons arrival gives Los Angeles a developmental arm to work with, and he could begin buried on the depth chart while the Rams sort out what his long-term path looks like. The bigger issue is still Stafford himself, because his contract only answers part of the question and leaves plenty of intrigue about how the next phase of the quarterback room will take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Rams May Finally Have What Chris Shula Has Been Missing
With Jalen Ramsey gone, the Rams have spent the offseason trying to firm up the back end of the defense, and the additions of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson give Chris Shula a different kind of secondary to work with. Those corners are meant to help stabilize pass coverage, which in turn should let the rest of the defense play with a little more confidence and aggression.
The bigger question is how that change translates into the kind of game-changing plays the Rams want more of. Shulas defense already created a respectable number of turnovers over the past two seasons, and there is a real sense that a stronger roster could push that total higher this year. Kam Kinchens is also part of the equation, with his ball skills and downhill style potentially becoming a bigger weapon if the pieces around him hold up. [Read more 🡒]
Sean McVay Faces One Of His Biggest Rams Tests Yet
The Rams head into the new season with the kind of offseason buzz that can easily blur into expectation, and Sean McVays biggest job may be keeping everyone from getting ahead of themselves. Los Angeles has been praised for its roster and its direction, but praise in July does not mean much once the games start, and the coachs steadying presence will matter as much as any play design or personnel move.
McVays leadership is especially important with rookies and newcomers trying to settle in, because the Rams need more than talent to turn optimism into something real. The challenge is a familiar one for a team with playoff ambitions: stay grounded, embrace the work and avoid letting the external noise become the internal standard before the season has even had a chance to prove anything. [Read more 🡒]