2022 NFL PREDICTIONS - NFC WEST

NFL / Football

Written by Joel Lefevre

Three teams from the NFC West qualified for the postseason a year ago, with the Rams winning the Super Bowl.

This division in 2022-23 should be competitive once again with plenty of talent and experience with every team.

Source (Edited Photo, Background Photo): Getty Images, CBS Sports

Here is a breakdown of the NFC West and where we project each team will finish.

Seattle Seahawks

Key Additions

Noah Fant (tight end), Drew Lock (quarterback).

Key Subtractions

Russell Wilson (quarterback), Bobby Wagner (linebacker).

Biggest Strength

On paper, the Seahawks roster looks weak, but they possess some solid receivers who could help Drew Lock as he prepares to take over the quarterbacking reins from the departed Russell Wilson.

D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are still among the best-receiving duos in the NFL, as throwing the ball to Lockett have resulted in a passer rating of 124.8 in his NFL career.

Biggest Weakness

Across the board, this is shaping up to be a tough season for Seattle, but especially for their linebacking group, who will be hard-pressed to find someone who can make the kind of tackles and plays that Bobby Wagner was able to make.

Projection-4th

Wilson and Wagner are only two individuals, but they meant so much to this franchise and shouldered so much responsibility that without them, it is hard to foresee Pete Carroll’s team thriving with so many other glaring holes.

Los Angeles Rams

Key Additions

Allen Robinson (wide receiver), Bobby Wagner (linebacker).

Key Subtractions

Robert Woods (wide receiver), Von Miller (linebacker).

Biggest Strength

Matthew Stafford proved that with the right group of weapons around him, he could elevate his game, as the Rams’ offence was dramatically better with him under center and should be again this year.

Biggest Weakness

The Rams should be solid favourites to repeat as champions this season, but there will be questions about their depth overall, and if they pick up a slew of injuries at one position, it is unclear if they have the resources to replace their quality starters.

Projection- 1st

Their offensive weapons have as much quality as any unit in the league, and they have an impressive secondary who do not give quarterbacks much to throw at.

Arizona Cardinals

Key Additions

Trey McBride (tight end), Marquise Brown (wide receiver).

Key Subtractions

Chase Edmonds (running back), Christian Kirk (wide receiver).

Biggest Strength

Kyler Murray has plenty of offensive weapons to count on, even with DeAndre Hopkins suspended through the early portion of the campaign.

Marquise Brown is a dependable pass catcher, while the Cardinals might have the best group of tight ends in the league with Zach Ertz, Maxx Williams and Trey McBride, who all possess great hands and an ability to turn small plays into big ones.

Biggest Weakness

The Cards were too easy to throw against last year as Byron Murphy allowed 66.3% of passes thrown in his direction to be caught, and it remains to be seen if he can get back to his old form.

Projection- 3rd

Murray didn’t always make smart decisions with the football last year, while the Cards’ secondary looks like they are regressing each year, so when you combine all of those factors, we could see Arizona drop a little from last season.

San Francisco 49ers

Key Additions

Charvarius Ward (cornerback), Tyrion Davis-Price (running back).

Key Subtractions

D.J. Jones (defensive tackle), Rasheem Mostert (running back).

Biggest Strength

Kyle Shanahan has a strong pass-rushing team, led by Nick Bosa, while Arik Armstead is a force with lots of defensive flexibility, averaging 50 pressures over the past three seasons.

Drake Jackson has the best bend and textbook edge pressure of any pass rusher in the NFL draft and could replace the often-injured Dee Ford and add another piece to this team’s strong defensive line.

Biggest Weakness

Protecting the quarterback might be challenging for a Niners team who lost Laken Tomlinson for big money to the New York Jets, leaving them with no starter on the interior line.

Without any established talent to block on the interior line, Shanahan will have to find some creative offensive schemes in order for this team to excel.

Projection- 2nd

For the time being, 49ers hopes will rest on Trey Lance’s shoulders, which will be a lot to ask for the 22-year-old out of North Dakota State, but the Niners have a man with a ton of big game experience to count on should he falter by restructuring the contract of Jimmy Garoppolo and having him around will be a great insurance policy if Lance struggles as the starter.

The return of Deebo Samuel will help, plus their defence should be able to disrupt opposing quarterbacks, but we do not expect them to have enough to overtake the Rams.