Four weeks into the 2026 season, the NFC West has settled into a familiar shape: San Francisco sitting alone at the top, Seattle hanging close, Los Angeles trying to build something, and Arizona fighting to stop the slide.
The 49ers are the only unbeaten team left in the division at 4-0, and they kept that spotless mark intact with a 24-14 win over the Denver Broncos at Levi’s Stadium in Week 4. The Seahawks followed at 3-1 after taking down the Los Angeles Chargers 30-23 at Lumen Field. The Rams moved back to .500 with a 23-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts, while the Cardinals dropped to 1-3 after a 36-24 loss to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
San Francisco’s start has been built on surviving the kind of game that can expose a team’s depth. Even with core starters missing along the front seven and more secondary help leaving during the game, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris found enough answers to keep Denver in check.
The Broncos were held to 14 points, and Brock Purdy was kept clean all afternoon with no sacks. When it mattered late, Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle finished off touchdown drives that sealed another win in a physical game.
Seattle has been just as steady in its own way, and that’s what keeps the Seahawks squarely in the race. Sam Darnold threw two touchdown passes in the win over the Chargers, and the defense came up with key second-half takeaways against Justin Herbert. The pass rush has helped cover for some minor issues in the secondary, giving Seattle the kind of balance that makes it the clearest threat to San Francisco’s grip on the division.
The Rams got the bounce-back they needed after the painful fourth-quarter collapse in Denver the week before. Against Indianapolis, Matthew Stafford managed the offense efficiently and leaned on quick passing to get the ball out fast and keep the unit ahead of schedule. The defense still isn’t producing many big plays, but Los Angeles controlled the clock and finished drives in the red zone, enough to stay even through the first month.
Arizona’s problems, meanwhile, keep piling up. The Cardinals allowed 36 points to a Giants offense that has been struggling, and three interceptions only made the afternoon harder.
Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson each provided some spark in the passing game, but the defense could not slow the run or consistently force long third downs. That has Arizona sitting on a three-game losing streak and still winless in conference play at 0-3.
Week 5 now turns the spotlight to Seattle, where the 4-0 49ers travel to face the 3-1 Seahawks. A San Francisco win would push the division lead to two games and move the 49ers to 3-0 in divisional play. A Seattle win would pull the teams even at the top of the NFC West and tighten the race heading into mid-October.
In Other News...
49ers Got The Kyle Juszczyk Injury News They Desperately Needed
Kyle Juszczyks knee injury looked far worse in the moment, but the 49ers avoided the kind of outcome that can reshape a season. The Pro Bowl fullback was hurt against the Broncos and later learned the MRI showed no ligament damage, easing fears around a play that had plenty of people bracing for a longer absence.
Juszczyk is still expected to miss two to three weeks after suffering a hyperextended knee, capsule sprain and minor bone bruise, which likely rules him out for the Seahawks game. Even so, the door is open for a return before the end of October, a useful bit of news for a San Francisco offense that leans on his versatility and physical presence in the run game and around the goal line. [Read more 🡒]
John Lynch Could Have One More Aggressive Move In Mind
The 49ers have been surviving the kind of stretch that tends to test a rosters depth as much as its talent, stacking wins even while dealing with injuries that have complicated the week-to-week picture. That kind of success can make a front office hesitate, but it can also sharpen the sense that the current group is close enough to justify a little more help before the season gets much deeper.
With the November 10 trade deadline looming, John Lynch could still have one aggressive move left to make if he decides the run should be supported rather than merely managed. The names tied to that conversation point in a few different directions, from defensive tackle Daron Payne to wide receiver Quentin Johnston to edge rushers Za'Darius Smith and Khalil Mack, which says plenty about the range of ways San Francisco could try to bolster itself without waiting for the market to come to it. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Injury Report Brings Early Concern And One Intriguing Possibility
The first Week 5 practice brought an early dose of concern for San Francisco, with five players sitting out as the 49ers started preparing for Seattle. Nick Bosa, James Thompson, Kyle Juszczyk, Marques Sigle, and Upton Stout were all absent, while Mykel Williams, Mike Evans and Kaelon Black took part on a limited basis as the team tried to sort through an injury list that already had some familiar names on it.
Williams is the most intriguing piece of the group, since a return to the field could be on the table after he worked his way back from injury. Coach Kyle Shanahan also said Stout is day-to-day with a shoulder issue, which at least gives the 49ers some reason to keep a close eye on the week rather than assume the early absences will define it. [Read more 🡒]