Nothing has come easy in the NFC West, and Week 7 made that crystal clear. San Francisco’s perfect start is gone after injuries and turnovers caught up with the 49ers in a 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and both Seattle and Los Angeles used the opening to tighten the race.
For the first time this season, the 49ers looked vulnerable in a way that came straight from the injury report. With Jordan Watkins, Brandin Cooks, and Jacob Cowing leading the receiver group, Kyle Shanahan’s offense was forced into a limited version of itself. San Francisco had trouble finding rhythm, and that was enough to hand over its first defeat of the year.
That doesn’t suddenly make the 49ers ordinary. When they’re healthy, they’re the best team in the NFL, and the kind of roster that can make a Super Bowl run.
But the issue is getting there intact. With the Seahawks now within two games, the cushion in the division is gone.
Seattle, meanwhile, sent its own message in primetime. The Sunday Night Football matchup was framed as the Kenneth Walker III revenge game, but the Seahawks controlled it their way, holding Walker to 36 rushing yards on 14 carries. Mike Macdonald’s group made the point loud and clear: the defense is the engine here, the same one that just won them a Super Bowl in February.
The offense still has rough edges, but Seattle’s 4-3 record undersells how dangerous this team can be. The addition of Quenton Nelson only strengthens that case.
If the schedule eases up the way it appears it could, the Seahawks have a real shot to push San Francisco at the top of the NFC West. Another primetime win against the Chicago Bears in Week 8 would pull them even closer to the idle 49ers.
Los Angeles also took advantage of the moment. The Rams beat the Raiders 35-21, and even without Davante Adams, they looked sharp enough to control the game well before the finish. The score makes it seem tighter than it really was; the Rams had this one wrapped up by halftime.
That doesn’t mean the roster is healthy. Like the 49ers, the Rams are dealing with multiple injuries to important veterans.
Still, if they can get through the rest of the season with a limited group, they’ll be set up to matter in the playoffs. And once Myles Garrett finally returns, the Rams will be a force to be reckoned with in the NFC West.
Arizona, for its part, remains in the grind that has defined its season. The Cardinals fell 30-16 to the Broncos, a result that made their place in the division feel familiar again.
They’ve shown some fight and have been able to grab a win here and there, but they don’t have the talent to stack up with the teams above them. Their Week 7 loss was another reminder that they’re clearly behind the pack in one of the league’s toughest divisions.
NFC West entering Week 8: 49ers lose to Falcons 29-20
Cardinals lose to Broncos 30-16 Rams beat Raiders 35-21
Seahawks lose to Chiefs 20-3
49ers, next game: Sunday, Nov. 8 vs. Raiders (Week 8 bye)
Seahawks, next game: Monday, Nov. 2 vs. Bears
Rams, next game: Sunday, Nov. 1 vs. Chargers
In Other News...
49ers Enter Bye Week With A Defensive Surprise Fans Didn't See Coming
The bye week arrives with the 49ers still in a strong spot at 6-1, even after a recent loss, and the biggest reason has been a defense that has kept finding answers as the bodies have piled up. Injuries have forced San Francisco to lean on depth in a hurry, with absences affecting players such as Alfred Collins and CJ West, yet the unit has continued to hold its own and keep the team near the top of the standings.
What has made this stretch especially notable is how quickly some unexpected contributors have been pulled into meaningful roles. Odighizuwa has given the front a real boost, while Jaden Dugger and Gracen Halton have been asked to step in much earlier than anyone likely planned because of injuries and suspension-related gaps, and their emergence has helped soften the impact of all the moving parts. For a team trying to stay steady through the middle of the season, that kind of defensive depth could matter just as much as the record. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Could Have A Post-Bye Playing Time Shakeup Soon
The 49ers are heading into the bye with a familiar mix of caution and optimism, and Christian McCaffreys status is part of the equation. Kyle Shanahan described the running backs hamstring issue as mild and said the team expects him to be fine after the break, which matters because San Francisco is trying to use the extra week to get healthier without disrupting the rhythm it has built around its top playmakers.
McCaffrey is hardly the only name in play. Shanahan pointed to a broad group of possible post-bye returnees, including Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, Demarcus Robinson, Nick Bosa, CJ West, Marques Sigle, Garret Wallow, Luke Gifford, and Upton Stout, which could force the 49ers into some real decisions on snaps and roles once the roster gets fuller again. For a team managing injuries across both sides of the ball, the bye could turn into more than a reset - it may bring a noticeable shuffle in who is on the field and how often. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Enter Bye With A Chance To Come Back Even More Dangerous
The 49ers head into their midseason bye with a one-loss record and the sense that they have put themselves in a strong position early in the 2026 season. After a fast start, this week off arrives at a useful time, giving the coaching staff a chance to let injured players heal, take a harder look at what has worked, and sort through the little issues that tend to matter more as the schedule tightens.
San Francisco has been good enough to expect more from itself, which is usually the point at this stage of the year. The next stretch will be about turning that solid foundation into something even sharper, with the staff working to tighten consistency, execution and efficiency on both sides of the ball before the season resumes. [Read more 🡒]