Niners Nation
Three teams from the NFC West enter Week 3 with a 2-0 record. The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers face off on Sunday, so that will change for one of them. Los Angeles returns to Philadelphia for a rematch of their playoff clash last season, and Seattle is the only NFC West team with a loss (a divisional loss to the 49ers in Week 1) and welcomes the New Orleans Saints following their loss to the 49ers.
Through two weeks, who is the team to beat in the NFC West?
Los Angeles Rams
As long as Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford are a tandem, the Rams will be involved in the NFC West lead. Puka Nacua is off to a blistering start, and Davante Adams found his stride in Week 2. Between the two, they have combined for 378 receiving yards. McVay will always have the Rams in position to contend.
The defense is the difference maker for the Rams. According to SumerSports, the Rams’ defense is third in the NFL with a -0.13 EPA/play on the season. Additionally, the Rams rank third in the NFL in defensive EPA/pass, at -0.20. Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, who is dealing with an injury ahead of the Eagles game, anchor the defensive line for Los Angeles. Combine the offensive tandem and the impactful defense, and the Rams are a fixture at the top of the NFC West.
Seattle Seahawks
Following a close loss to the 49ers in Seattle, the Seahawks went into Pittsburgh and delivered a convincing defensive performance and victory last Sunday. While the story focuses on the defense and Mike MacDonald, the Seahawks’ offense is the seventh-highest graded offense, according to PFF, with a grade of 75.1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has 227 receiving yards on 17 catches, continuing his stellar play from 2024.
Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, Boye Mafe, and Josh Jobe have been on fire to begin the season for the Seahawks’ defense. The defensive linemen have combined for 20 pressures, three QB hits, 14 hurries, and three sacks on the season. Williams has been stellar as a run defender with a team-high 81.1 run defense grade. On 78 coverage snaps, Jobe has allowed two catches on nine targets for eight yards.
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona is dealing with massive injuries to its secondary. Despite the injuries, the Cardinals have started 2-0 with victories over New Orleans and Carolina. Trey McBride is in the mix for the top of the NFL tight end hierarchy, James Conner is as solid as it gets for a running back in the NFL, and Marvin Harrison is extremely talented, but hasn’t hit his ceiling.
The Cardinals’ defensive line has been impressive. Even with the defense’s low blitz rate, the defensive line continues to create pressure with zone coverage mostly on the back end. If the Cardinals’ secondary can round back into health with Kyler Murray taking his final step as a quarterback, this could be their year.
San Francisco 49ers
Although the 49ers are...
