After one week, the NFC West has already taken on a different look.
The San Francisco 49ers sit in the driver’s seat for the division after opening with a 27-7 win over the Los Angeles Rams in Australia, and the betting market has reacted fast. ESPN now has the 49ers up to +160 to win the NFC West, moving them from third to first. The Seattle Seahawks are right behind at +175, while the Rams have dropped to third at +205 after beginning the season around +100.
That shift came after plenty of skepticism about San Francisco heading into the year. The Rams had loaded up on star talent in the offseason and were viewed by many as the safer Super Bowl pick.
The Seahawks, with their Super Bowl-winning nucleus still in place, were also rated ahead of the 49ers for both the division and the league’s top prize. But Week 1 changed the conversation quickly, and the 49ers’ showing against Los Angeles made a strong early statement about what this roster can do when healthy.
The bigger championship picture, though, hasn’t moved nearly as much. ESPN still lists the Rams as the Super Bowl favorites at +650, even though they are no longer the division favorite.
San Francisco sits tied for fifth-best at +1400 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Ahead of them are the Baltimore Ravens at +900, the Buffalo Bills at +950, and the Seahawks at +1100.
There’s also a split in how oddsmakers are viewing the NFC race overall. Los Angeles is still favored to reach the Super Bowl out of the NFC at +455, with the 49ers second at +550 and Seattle close behind at +580. The Philadelphia Eagles (+710) and Chicago Bears (+800) complete that top five.
Injuries are already playing a role in how the division is being priced. Los Angeles will be without star pass rusher Myles Garrett for at least the next month after placing him on Injured Reserve.
Aaron Donald has not played yet, either. On Seattle’s side, Sam Darnold is working through a hip injury and will be out, which means Drew Lock is set to start over the next few weeks.
San Francisco has already dealt with a heavy injury load of its own, with players like Ricky Pearsall and Alfred Collins expected to miss the season. Even so, the 49ers had their core healthy in Week 1, and that mattered.
The next chance for the NFC West picture to change again comes in Week 5, when San Francisco travels to face Seattle after three straight home games against the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, and Denver Broncos. That matchup could carry real weight in the division race, and it may line up with Sam Darnold’s return as well.
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49ers Already Look Right About One Offseason Decision
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Winters had a rough Week 1 for Dallas against the Giants, with coverage issues standing out, while Osa Odighizuwa immediately gave San Francisco a boost along the defensive front. It is still early, but the contrast between the two players first games in new uniforms gives the 49ers a quick reason to feel good about the decision they made. [Read more 🡒]
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49ers Rookie Edge Rusher Already Facing An Early Concern
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Instead, the first game left plenty to sort through. Height came away without a tackle or pressure on 18 pass rush attempts, a quiet opening night for a player expected to bring more immediate polish because of his age and college experience. For a 49ers defense that leans on steady production up front, the bigger question now is how quickly he can turn opportunity into impact. [Read more 🡒]