Divisional Analysis and Predictions for NFC West 2025: Forecasting the Champions of the Unruly West
NFC West Teams Set for Exciting 2025 Season
The National Football League's (NFL) Western Conference (NFC) West division is gearing up for an action-packed 2025 season, with the Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks all vying for supremacy.
The Los Angeles Rams, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford and tight end Tyler Higbee, are predicted to finish first with an 11-6 record. Some sources consider them the outright favourites or a top contender to win the division [1][3][4].
The Arizona Cardinals, with Kyler Murray as their starting quarterback and James Connor at running back, have their 2025 win total set at 8.5, but some predictions forecast they could achieve an 11-6 record. They improved in 2024 and are expected to continue progressing, particularly on defense under coach Jonathan Gannon [2][4][3]. Their wide receivers include Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch, Zay Jones, and Trey McBride at tight end [5].
The San Francisco 49ers, with Christian McCaffrey as their starting running back and George Kittle at tight end, have division-winning odds of +165 and a win total projected at 10.5 by sportsbooks. However, some analysts give them a record closer to 8-9 or 9-8. They have an easier schedule than in 2024 and key offensive players like McCaffrey remain a strength. Defensively, they faced some setbacks last year but have a new defensive coordinator, Robert Saleh, which might improve results [1][2][4][3]. Brandon Aiuyk, Jauan Jennings, and Ricky Pearsall are potential starting wide receivers [8].
The Seattle Seahawks, with Sam Darnold as their starting quarterback, are predicted to be the weakest team in the division with a win total around 7.5 and expected 6-7 wins. Although they have a new quarterback and some defensive improvements, most outlooks place them in fourth in the NFC West [2][4]. Kenneth Walker III is their starting running back, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp are their starting wide receivers [6].
The Arizona Cardinals will play away games against Tampa Bay, Houston, Cincinnati, and Atlanta, while the Seattle Seahawks will travel to Pittsburgh, Washington, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Atlanta, and Carolina [7][9]. The Cardinals also have games against the NFC South teams, New Orleans, Carolina, Tennessee, Indianapolis, and Jacksonville [10].
The San Francisco 49ers' toughest non-divisional games are at Tampa Bay in Week 6 and at Houston in Week 8, while the Los Angeles Rams have tough away games against Philadelphia and Baltimore in the upcoming season. The Seahawks' toughest opponents coming to the PNW are the Buccaneers in Week 5, the Texans in Week 7, and the Vikings in Week 13 [1][2][4][9].
The Arizona Cardinals had a top-half ranking in points scored and allowed in the previous season [11]. The Los Angeles Rams' schedule includes games against the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers later in the season [4].
Overall, the division race looks competitive primarily between the Rams, Cardinals, and 49ers, with the Seahawks likely trailing at present. The Rams most commonly emerge as division favourites, but the Cardinals and 49ers remain strong contenders with win projections ranging from 8.5 to 11 wins. The Seahawks project to underperform compared to their division rivals in the 2025 NFL season.
[1] ESPN NFL Predictions 2025: Ranking all 32 teams from best to worst [2] USA Today Sportsbook Wire: 2025 NFL win totals, over/under predictions for all 32 teams [3] CBS Sports: 2025 NFL Power Rankings: Predicting the top 10 teams in the league [4] Sports Illustrated: 2025 NFL Season: Predictions, Power Rankings, and Expert Analysis [5] Arizona Cardinals Offensive Roster [6] Seattle Seahawks Offensive Roster [7] Arizona Cardinals 2025 Schedule [8] San Francisco 49ers Offensive Roster [9] Seattle Seahawks 2025 Schedule [10] Arizona Cardinals Schedule 2025: Opponents, Dates, and Times [11] Arizona Cardinals 2024 Season Statistics
- The Arizona Cardinals, with a potential 11-6 record, could challenge the Los Angeles Rams' supremacy in the NFC West, given their offensive improvements and promising roster, such as Kyler Murray, James Connor, and their formidable wide receiver unit.
- While the Seattle Seahawks might struggle to keep up with their divisional rivals, with a predicted 6-7 win record, their offense, led by Sam Darnold, Kenneth Walker III, and Cooper Kupp, presents some intriguing possibilities for the 2025 NFL season.
