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The NFC West division once again looks primed to have 3 Super Bowl contenders in the Seattle Seahawks (Super Bowl Champs), the San Francisco 49ers, and the Los Angeles Rams. The Arizona Cardinals are not quite there yet because of the horrendous defense they displayed last season, so the jury will still be out on them until something changes in the standings. But just like every other division in football, every team is optimistic at the start of camp and feels it has a reason to make some noise in 2026. Let's figure out why.
Arizona Cardinals - Are the Cardinals playing the long game at QB with Carson Beck?
It will remain to be seen whether the Arizona Cardinals are playing the long game at QB. They will start veteran Jacoby Brissett, and the team drafted Carson Beck in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft. A season of tanking for a quarterback with the last name Manning in 2027? Not quite; Brissett will not necessarily be on a short leash, but Beck will play at some point. The QB position should be shored up within two years, but in the short term, it seems like new coach, new quarterback, same old, same old for the Cardinals. The young foundation will mature eventually.
Los Angeles Rams - They came up agonizingly short the last two seasons. What now?
The Super Bowl window remains open for the Los Angeles Rams as long as Matthew Stafford can still sling it at an MVP-caliber level. If Aaron Donald comes out of retirement to pair with Myles Garrett? Look out, NFL. Loaded with talent and great coaching, the Rams may be the most optimistic team heading into 2026. The foundation is there, until it isn't, and the Super Bowl is in Inglewood. Coincidence?
San Francisco 49ers - Ravaged by injury last year, the ceiling remains very high
Looking for their first Super Bowl since 1994, the 49ers are once again loaded with talent and projected to make a deep playoff run in the NFC. Oddly enough, the oft-injured Christian McCaffrey was one of the few players to play in every game for the 49ers. I think you can chalk it up to bad luck rather than the electrical substation situation. They'll be right back in the thick of it.
Seattle Seahawks - Super Bowl hangover for Seattle? I don't think so
Sam Darnold was a journeyman QB that no one wanted, and all he did was prove that coaching and systems matter, especially for quarterbacks. Many think he is still turnover-prone, having thrown 14 interceptions last season, but he didn't throw any in the playoffs, so scrap that notion. The defense kept New England off the board until the 4th quarter in the Super Bowl, and they remain largely unchanged. Super Bowl 61 runs through Seattle until it is derailed.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Every NFC West team's biggest reason for optimism in 2026
Continue reading...
Arizona Cardinals - Are the Cardinals playing the long game at QB with Carson Beck?
It will remain to be seen whether the Arizona Cardinals are playing the long game at QB. They will start veteran Jacoby Brissett, and the team drafted Carson Beck in the 3rd round of the NFL Draft. A season of tanking for a quarterback with the last name Manning in 2027? Not quite; Brissett will not necessarily be on a short leash, but Beck will play at some point. The QB position should be shored up within two years, but in the short term, it seems like new coach, new quarterback, same old, same old for the Cardinals. The young foundation will mature eventually.
Los Angeles Rams - They came up agonizingly short the last two seasons. What now?
The Super Bowl window remains open for the Los Angeles Rams as long as Matthew Stafford can still sling it at an MVP-caliber level. If Aaron Donald comes out of retirement to pair with Myles Garrett? Look out, NFL. Loaded with talent and great coaching, the Rams may be the most optimistic team heading into 2026. The foundation is there, until it isn't, and the Super Bowl is in Inglewood. Coincidence?
San Francisco 49ers - Ravaged by injury last year, the ceiling remains very high
Looking for their first Super Bowl since 1994, the 49ers are once again loaded with talent and projected to make a deep playoff run in the NFC. Oddly enough, the oft-injured Christian McCaffrey was one of the few players to play in every game for the 49ers. I think you can chalk it up to bad luck rather than the electrical substation situation. They'll be right back in the thick of it.
Seattle Seahawks - Super Bowl hangover for Seattle? I don't think so
Sam Darnold was a journeyman QB that no one wanted, and all he did was prove that coaching and systems matter, especially for quarterbacks. Many think he is still turnover-prone, having thrown 14 interceptions last season, but he didn't throw any in the playoffs, so scrap that notion. The defense kept New England off the board until the 4th quarter in the Super Bowl, and they remain largely unchanged. Super Bowl 61 runs through Seattle until it is derailed.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Every NFC West team's biggest reason for optimism in 2026
Continue reading...
