How long will the Arizona Cardinals hold on to their lead in the division?
The NFC West is in a dead heat, and the Los Angeles Rams are surging back into the race ahead of a Week 9 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. The Arizona Cardinals are leading for now, but how much longer can they keep their grasp on the division?
In a current three-way tie for first place, the Cardinals get the nod as the leader because of their Week 5 victory over San Francisco. Arizona has also beat the Rams and holds an in-division record of 2-0, which puts them ahead of Seattle who is 0-1 in NFC West matchups after losing to the 49ers in their game on Thursday Night Football.
The Rams are the only team in the division to have their bye week so far, and they have a major opportunity to make up some ground in this weekend’s matchup against the Seahawks in Seattle. LA started the year with a measly 1-4 record but have now won two straight and have welcomed Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp back into the fold.
Meanwhile the Cardinals will face the Chicago Bears of the NFC North, a division that’s given teams in the West fits so far this season. Chicago is 4-3 and lost their Week 8 contest against the Washington Commanders on a hail mary in the game’s final seconds.
The 49ers will sit out Week 9 on their bye week. They certainly could use the rest in hopes of getting back Christian McCaffrey in the short-term and after they juts lost Brandon Aiyuk for the season.
Will the Rams make up some ground on the rest of the division and earn an important win in Seattle?