The NFC West got a jolt in Week 6, and the Seattle Seahawks felt it without even taking the field.
While Seattle was idle, the Arizona Cardinals delivered one of the bigger surprises of the season by slipping past the Los Angeles Rams, 18-16, in the division’s only game Sunday. That result tightened the picture in the West and kept the standings in motion heading into the final Week 6 matchup.
The San Francisco 49ers are the last team in the division to play this week, facing the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football. They’re one of three undefeated teams left in the NFL, joining the Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings, who were both on bye. A win would push San Francisco’s division cushion to three games.
Seattle, meanwhile, is dealing with a rough patch of its own. The Seahawks have dropped back-to-back games for the first time since Weeks 16 and 17 of the 2024 season, and all three of their losses have come by a combined eight points. That narrow margin has fueled plenty of frustration in Seattle, especially on offense.
Even so, the Seahawks are not alone in trying to climb out of early trouble in the division. The Cardinals and Rams are both sitting behind them, each with only two wins so far.
Arizona’s two victories have both come on the road at SoFi Stadium. The Cardinals opened the season by beating the Los Angeles Chargers, then endured a four-game skid that included a Week 2 loss to Seattle in their home opener. On Sunday, they went back to Los Angeles and stole a win from the Rams at the end, with Chad Ryland drilling a 43-yard field goal as time expired.
The Rams entered the season with Super Bowl expectations, but the first six weeks have not matched the hype. Some of their losses have come against quality opponents such as the 49ers, Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills, but falling at home to Arizona as a more than a touchdown favorite stands out. With that result, Los Angeles now sits 3.5 games back in the NFC West race and has real ground to make up in the weeks ahead.
In Other News...
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Tight End Problem They Can't Ignore
Elijah Arroyos shoulder injury has pushed the Seahawks into a spot they cant really gloss over at tight end, especially with the severity still being sorted out after the recent game. Seattle moved quickly by signing veteran Josiah Deguara to the practice squad, a clear sign the team wanted another body in the room while it waits for a better read on Arroyos timeline.
The timing makes the situation more delicate because the Seahawks are also waiting on another key offensive update in running back Zach Charbonnet, who has been sidelined with an ACL injury. Even if Arroyos absence turns out to be manageable, Seattle is suddenly navigating depth concerns at multiple spots, and what happens next at tight end could shape how the offense handles the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Defense Has One Frustrating Flaw Fans Can't Ignore
The Seahawks have spent enough time around the top of the league conversation defensively to know where the frustration is coming from. But the red-zone numbers have become impossible to overlook, with Seattle allowing touchdowns on 75% of opponents' red-zone drives this season, a sharp drop from last year's 50%. In the overtime loss to Denver, that issue surfaced again when the Broncos finished both of their red-zone chances with touchdowns, leaving Seattle to chase the game in a spot where its defense has usually been expected to hold firm.
Brock Huard added to the criticism after the game, pointing to specific plays where the Seahawks failed to keep Denver out of the end zone. For a unit with bigger ambitions, the concern is not just the single loss but the pattern underneath it, one that keeps showing up in the tightest moments and keeps turning strong defensive stretches into costly breakdowns. Until that changes, Seattle's defense will keep inviting the same uncomfortable questions. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Are Taking A Chance On An Overlooked Run Game Fix
The Seahawks added a couple of familiar-looking pieces to the practice squad this week, signing undrafted rookie fullback Jackson Acker and tight end Josiah Deguara. It is the kind of move that usually flies under the radar in midseason, but for a team still looking for answers in the run game, it stands out as more than just roster churn.
Acker brings the sort of size and speed that can matter in short-yardage and in creating cleaner paths for the backs, which is part of why Seattle is taking a look. The broader issue has been the Seahawks' recent rushing struggles, and the team may be hoping this new mix of personnel can give them another option as they map out what the ground game looks like in upcoming games. [Read more 🡒]