As the season heads into its twilight, the gap between each of the teams in the NFC West shrinks. Every game seems to change where each team stands. This ranking looks at how each team has done when looking at their last four games, specifically looking at their record against teams currently over .500. This ranking also takes into account their current record but with lesser importance. Above all, this ranking looks at where the team is today. There will also be a look ahead at what teams are left on the schedule for each team and what to expect.
NFC West Power Rankings: Week 13
1. Los Angeles Rams (7-4)
Jared Goff and the Rams are currently second in the NFC West but have beaten Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks who currently lead the division. If the Rams keep pace with the Seahawks and beat them a second time, the resulting tie-breaker would allow the Rams to win the division.
Over their last four games, the Rams have played three teams over .500 and have gone 2-1 against those teams.
Looking ahead, the Rams will play the Cardinals twice, the Patriots, the Jets, and the Seahawks. Kyler Murray and the Cardinals are the last true unknown team for the Rams in the division and it will be interesting to see how they stack up. That being said, the Cardinals have also beaten Seattle so they will likely be a tough game.
The Patriots are seemingly rounding into form for a possible late playoff push and the Seahawks are knowingly difficult. Overall, it will be a tough schedule but the Rams can tango.2. Seattle Seahawks (8-3)
The Seahawks currently lead the NFC West but they have lost to the Rams and the Cardinals. The Seahawks need to basically win out in order to not lose the division as the Rams are one game behind and currently hold the tie-breaker.
Over the last four games, the ‘Hawks have played three teams over .500 and have lost two and won one.
Looking ahead, they play the Giants, Jets, Washington, Rams, and 49ers. They could easily go 4-1 which could actually be good enough to barely win the division even if they lose to the Rams if they get a little help. This could mean that the worse team won the division — quite a paradox.
3. Arizona Cardinals (6-5)
The Cardinals are in third place but they have defeated the Seahawks. For the team in the desert, the division might be a little out of reach at this point without a lot of help as they are now two games back. However, naturally, the playoffs are not out of reach for any team over .500.
Over the last four games, the Cardinals have played three teams over .500 and went 1-2 against those teams.
Looking ahead, they play the Rams twice, the Giants, the Eagles, and the 49ers. The Cardinals could realistically go 4-1, finish 10-6, and lose the division at third place. Put simply, the NFC West is supremely loaded this year.
“Coming into 2020, there were a lot of expectations for the NFC West this season and the division has delivered.”
4. San Francisco 49ers (5-6)
As rough as the regular season has been, the 49ers and Nick Mullens are still in the hunt at 5-6. For them, the division is definitely out of reach realistically if not mathematically.
Over their last four games, they have played four teams over .500 and went 1-3 (win versus the Rams).
Looking ahead, their future is grim. They play the Bills, Washington, the Cowboys, the Cardinals, and the Seahawks. Their best realistic bet is to win two or three games and sneak into the final Wild Card spot at 7-9 or 8-8 which is quite unlikely.
Tiers
While each team is ranked one through four, there are some teams that are closer to the top than others. Basically, the top tier is reserved for the Rams, Seahawks, and Cardinals while the middle tier barely houses the 49ers. There is no bottom tier in this division — quite impressive considering how many games have been played. Coming into 2020, there were a lot of expectations for the NFC West this season and the division has delivered.
Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson. Photo Credit: Brook Ward | Under Creative Commons License