Biggest Remaining Question For Each NFC West Team

It’s fascinating how fast things can change in the National Football League.

Take the NFC West. In 2021, the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Arizona Cardinals all reached the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks were the only team in the division with a losing record. The Rams and Niners would meet in the NFC title game and Sean McVay’s club would not only prevail in that contest but go on to win Super Bowl LVI.

In 2022, San Francisco captured the NFC West and would once again reach the conference title. The Seahawks rebounded from a 7-10 showing to reach the playoffs but would fall to the rival 49ers in the wild-card round. Elsewhere, the Rams (5-12) and Cardinals (4-13) combined for a 9-25 mark.

It was a pretty active offseason for all four franchises and it’s a division that certainly has some questions regarding the quarterback position. What other issues are facing the 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, and Cardinals?

San Francisco 49ers

Can the defense carry the team to a Super Bowl title?

This past season, Kyle Shanahan’s club gave up the fewest points in the league, something the franchise hadn’t done since its Super Bowl XIX title season of 1984. DeMeco Ryans is now the head coach of the Houston Texans and Steve Wilks takes over as defensive coordinator. It will be interesting to see how the Niners’ quarterback situation plays out. When it’s all said and done, could the Niners pull a 2015 Broncos?

Seattle Seahawks

Has the team improved enough to defeat the 49ers?

Pete Carroll’s club was a present surprise this past season. One year after being the only team in the division with a losing record, the Seahawks got off to a solid start and wound up finding a way to get into the playoffs. Three of Seattle’s nine total losses in 2022 were to the division-champion 49ers, including a wild card setback. Those setbacks were by a combined score of 89-43. Has the team narrowed the gap?

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Los Angeles Rams

Will youth be served in the City of Angels?

The Rams set a dubious record last season by following the hoisting of a Lombardi Trophy with 12 losses, the most-ever by a defending Super Bowl champion. This offseason saw plenty of players either released, cut, or simply leave via free agency. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, wideout Cooper Kupp, and defensive tackle Aaron Donald remain. The Rams drafted 14 players, the most by any of the 32 teams in 2023.

Arizona Cardinals

What is the strength of Jonathan Gannon’s team?

It’s been a less-than-impressive offseason for new head coach Jonathan Gannon and new general manager Monti Ossenfort. There have been numerous defections, star defensive end J.J. Watt retired, and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins was recently released. Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore, and ex-Eagle Zach Pascal still give Gannon’s offense some hope. Still, who starts the season at quarterback?