NFL
Can Anyone Predict the Ridiculously Competitive NFC West this Season?
Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals form the most fierce and competitive NFL division in 2021
With the new NFL season fast approaching, it’s fairly clear which teams are considered contenders to go deep into the Playoffs. The Chiefs, Bucs, Bills, and Rams are the favorites (in that order) with the majority of sportsbooks for the Super Bowl. And while there are always going to be surprises (you’d be surprised as to how infrequently the preseason favorite wins the Super Bowl), you’d expect that quartet to be there or thereabouts next January and February.
But before thinking of the postseason, you have to make a splash in your own division. The Chiefs are very short odds to waltz through the AFC West, for example. And while there might be some resistance from the Broncos and Chargers, you’d expect them to get the job done without too much fuss. The Bucs too should navigate the NFC South handily enough, although some believe the Saints should be closer than what the sportsbooks say.
However, as with every other season, there are some bruising divisions. They might not produce the Super Bowl winner, but they look incredibly tough to call. The AFC North is one such example, with the Ravens, Browns, and perhaps even the Steelers being a playoff team. MansionBet’s Alex Jack has created a preview detailing the fierce battle for supremacy in the AFC North, which is worth reading. But the toughest division is – by a distance – the NFC West.
The NFC West looks ridiculously competitive with all four teams having a legitimate shot at the Playoffs. Yes, the eye is drawn to the Rams and 49ers, both of whom are bona fide Super Bowl contenders, but there should be a lot of respect given to the Seahawks and Cardinals as well. Sure, it would be somewhat of a surprise to see either team take to the field at SoFi Stadium next February for Super Bowl LVI, but don’t rule them out of a deep postseason run just yet.
If you want to make it a bit more scientific, the NFC West has the 4th (Rams), 5th (49ers), 9th (Seahawks), and 18th (Cardinals) ranked teams in terms of betting odds for the Super Bowl. While power rankings don’t always match up with sportsbooks odds, some lists have all four teams within the top 15 in the preseason rankings.
In the end, however, it’s all about the spectacle of watching a division that could be this competitive from start to finish. By December, we will probably see several teams across the NFL able to take their foot off the gas, although some will be trying to cement their place in the seedings. The battle between the Rams and 49ers is very close with each of their recent NFC Championship victories coming to mind but with Matt Stafford at QB, LA has a slight advantage in 2021.
And, of course, the Seahawks and Cardinals are going to need a lot of things to fall into place should they wish to challenge the two frontrunners, but we have seen much, much bigger shocks down the years in NFL. We have seen odds of +200 for the Rams and 49ers, +300 for the Seahawks, and +550 for Arizona to win the division. That’s as tight as it gets for this – or any other – season. The Chiefs and Bucs might be the favorites for the Super Bowl, but the real drama in the regular season looks like it will be in the NFC West, the best division in football.
