All offseason, the conversation in the NFC kept circling back to the Rams and the Seahawks. San Francisco was supposed to be lurking, waiting for a crack in the door. In Week 1, the 49ers kicked that door wide open.
Kyle Shanahan’s team didn’t just beat the Rams - it flattened them, rolling to a 27-7 win in Australia and turning the division picture upside down before September really got going. With one strong Sunday, the Niners made it clear they belong in the title mix, and they now sit at the top of the NFC West power rankings.
- San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers spent the offseason dealing with one injury after another, and the noise around the roster never really stopped. None of that mattered against Los Angeles. Even with a depleted lineup, San Francisco controlled the Rams and reminded the rest of the league exactly how dangerous this team can be.
If Mike Evans keeps producing like he did in Week 1 and the rest of the roster stays away from major injuries, the Niners will be a real problem in the division race. They also have a chance to build a quick cushion with Miami coming up next, and a 2-0 start would put them in a strong early position.
Next game: Sunday, Sept. 20 vs. Dolphins
- Seattle Seahawks
Seattle handled business in a tight one, edging the Patriots 13-10 without Sam Darnold. Drew Lock stepped in and did his job, avoiding the kind of mistakes that can flip a game, while the defense carried the load and kept New England in check.
Darnold is expected to miss time because of a soft tissue injury, so Lock figures to hold the keys for now. The next stretch will test Seattle’s ability to keep winning with that setup, with the Cardinals, Washington Commanders, and Los Angeles Chargers on deck.
Next game: Sunday, Sept. 20 @ Cardinals
- Los Angeles Rams
The Rams came into the season carrying Super Bowl favorite buzz, but Week 1 was a hard reset. No team scored fewer points, and Matthew Stafford managed only 155 passing yards as San Francisco’s battered defense still managed to shut down Sean McVay’s offense.
One ugly loss doesn’t erase everything the Rams were expected to be, but the margin for error in this division is tiny. Things are looking even worse now with Myles Garrett set to be put on injured reserve, and the pressure is already rising.
If Los Angeles doesn’t respond against the Giants in Week 2, the temperature around this team is going to climb fast.
Next game: Monday, Sept. 21 vs. Giants
- Arizona Cardinals
For now, the Cardinals stay at the bottom simply because it’s still too early to swing wildly after one week. But their 26-14 win over the Chargers was cleaner and more composed than what a lot of people expected.
Mike LaFleur’s team didn’t pile up the flashy moments, but it controlled the game from the opening whistle to the finish. That kind of steady start matters, especially in a division where every week seems to reshuffle the order.
If Arizona can stay with the Seahawks in Week 2, it will start looking like a legitimate factor in the NFC West.
Next game: Sunday, Sept. 20 vs. Seahawks
In Other News...
49ers Already Look Right About One Offseason Decision
The 49ers offseason swap with Dallas is already drawing attention after one Sunday of action. San Francisco sent linebacker Dee Winters to the Cowboys for a fifth-round pick, and the early returns were uneven on both sides of the deal, especially with the 49ers looking to reshape their defense around more dependable pieces.
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 🡒]
49ers Passing Game Just Took Another Hit At Wide Receiver
The 49ers receiver depth keeps getting tested, and DeZhaun Stribling is the latest name to fall off the board. The rookie wideout had surgery on his injured left ankle and is expected to miss about 10 weeks, a setback that comes after he had carved out a significant role in the offense following another receivers season-ending knee surgery.
Kyle Shanahan said the injury is a deltoid sprain, and Stribling is likely headed to injured reserve, forcing San Francisco to keep reshuffling the back end of its wideout group. KhaDarel Hodge was promoted to the active roster in his place, giving the 49ers another experienced option, but the bigger issue is how quickly the room has thinned out and how much more strain that puts on the rest of the passing game. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Rookie Edge Rusher Already Facing An Early Concern
Romello Height got an extended look right away in his NFL debut, and that alone spoke to how the 49ers view their rookie third-round pick. The edge rusher was on the field for 30 snaps and was used heavily in passing situations, a sign San Francisco wanted to see what he could give right away after entering the league with a reputation as one of the more pro-ready young defenders in the class.
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 🡒]