It only took 10 wins to earn the NFC West title a 12 months ago. Two of the division’s 4 teams have already reached that total 14 weeks into 2025. The ten-3 Rams are in first place and on target to win the division for the second straight season, however the Seahawks share the identical record. Meanwhile, the 49ers (9-4) are right on their tails. At 3-10, the Cardinals are the one non-contender within the division, leaving the opposite three clubs to battle for the title over the subsequent 4 weeks.
The Rams rank second within the NFL in point differential, trailing only the Seahawks in that category. Nonetheless, the Rams got the higher of the Seahawks of their first matchup of the season in Week 11. Playing at home, the Rams took advantage of 4 Sam Darnold interceptions to eke out a 21-19 win. Those two will meet again in Seattle in Week 16. The Seahawks also lost their previous meeting with the 49ers, who took a 17-13 decision on the road in Week 1. Seattle will seek revenge in San Francisco in Week 18, potentially with the division at stake. Having already split their season series, the Rams and 49ers are done with one another unless a rubber match occurs through the playoffs.
Despite Darnold’s disastrous showing against the Rams last month, the 28-year-old has been terrific for the second season in a row. Between his one-off with the Vikings and his first 13 games as a Seahawk, Darnold has gone 24-6 as a starter since 2024. He’s within the MVP running this 12 months, but Stafford is the favourite in his age-37 season.
Each Stafford and Darnold have benefited from immensely talented receivers. The Rams have a stellar one-two punch in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Nacua leads the NFL in catches (93), and Adams is atop the league in receiving touchdowns (14). Meanwhile, the Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba is definitely pacing the league in yards (1,428). He has a shot to interrupt Calvin Johnson‘s single-season record of 1,964.
While their offenses have gotten many of the headlines, the Rams and Seahawks have also prevented scoring at an elite clip. The Seahawks have given up 17.4 points per game to the Rams’ 17.5. Only the Texans (16.0) have done a greater job keeping points off the board than those two clubs. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula and Seahawks DC Aden Durde could soon draw head coaching interest in consequence of their work this 12 months.
The Rams’ Sean McVay and the Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald will likely earn Coach of the Yr consideration. The identical needs to be true for the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, who has kept his team within the hunt despite an absurd variety of notable injuries.
The 49ers survived an prolonged period without starting signal-caller Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle, who’ve returned from the shelf in recent weeks. They’ve also needed to get by for many of the 12 months without their two best defensive players, linebacker Fred Warner and end Nick Bosa. Warner suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in Week 6. Bosa tore his ACL in Week 3. Without Bosa coming off the sting, the 49ers rank last within the league in sacks. Nevertheless, coordinator Robert Saleh has still cobbled together the sport’s eighth-ranked scoring defense. Despite a failed run with the Jets, Saleh’s performance this season could earn him a second shot as a head coach in 2026.
The NFC West is organising as a three-way fight to shut out the season, but ESPN’s Football Power Index pegs the Rams as overwhelming favorites. They’ve a 56.3% probability to win the division. The Seahawks (27.5) and 49ers (16.3) are lagging well behind. How do you’re thinking that it is going to play out? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in along with your thoughts within the comments section.