Final NFC West Standings of 2020: Seahawks win division!

The 2020 regular season has come to an end. Here is how the NFC West finished.

Spoiler alert, the Seattle Seahawks are NFC West Champions. Coming into Week 17, 3 of the 4 West teams were playing for something. The Seahawks were of course, playing for the number one seed in the NFC. While the Rams and Cardinals were facing each other with a Wild Card spot on the line.

Prior to the regular season, many thought the whole NFC West division would make the playoffs. Quite frankly, if the 49ers didn’t sustain all the injuries early on, they probably would have been in the Wild Card race themselves.

But, that is all speculation. What we do know is that the Seahawks won the division and the Rams clinched a Wild Card spot. The Arizona Cardinals significantly improved on the season, but just fell one game short of the playoffs. The Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals all had their day in first place of the West during the 2020 season. But, the Seahawks are the team who ends the carousel on top.

In fact, the first place tracker below displays why the NFC West was the most competitive division in the 2020 regular season.

Week’s In 1st Place:

Seattle Seahawks – 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,12,15,16,17

Arizona Cardinals –1,2,10

Los Angeles Rams – 11,13,14

While the Seahawks were in control for the majority of the season, both the Rams and Cardinals had their chances of walking out on top. Both the Rams and Cardinals defeated the Seahawks in their first meetings. But, the Seahawks got the better of both teams later in the season, helping them clinch the division. Ironically, the Seahawks and Rams will face for a third time in the Wild Card round this Saturday at 4:40 p.m. Eastern on FOX.

Week 17 Recap:

Seattle Seahawks defeat San Francisco 49ers, 26-23

Last year in Week 17, the Seahawks and 49ers faced off in Seattle with the NFC West on the line. In a thrilling game, Jacob Hollister was stopped just shy of the end zone on the final play of the season. Fast forward to Week 17 of this season, and the circumstances were significantly different. The 49ers were playing for nothing more than to simply defeat their divisional rival. It is worth noting, they almost did that.

The grueling 49ers defense was able to knock the Seahawks offense out any of rhythm. But, in the fourth quarter down 10, Russell Wilson played hero and tallied 21 straight points. The Seattle defense played a good game for four quarters. In fact, they had a strip-sack late in the fourth that pretty much sealed this game. This was another classic battle between two divisional rivals. It was a great tune-up game for the Seahawks as they embark upon a playoff run.

Biggest Takeaway: This Seahawks offense needs to get off to a better start earlier in the game. 

Los Angeles Rams defeat Arizona Cardinals, 18-7

The battle for the 6th seed in the NFC featured two divisional rivals in the Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals. After getting surgery to repair a broken thumb, Rams QB Jared Goff was sidelined for the biggest game of the season. While there was some speculation about Kyler Murray and a leg injury, he did indeed start for the Cardinals. But, the story of this game was the Rams defense.

Los Angeles started QB John Wolford for their Week 17 bout and he did a solid job. His mobility causes the defense to stay honest, but the offense, of course, doesn’t look the same without Goff. Troy Hill had an interception returned for a touchdown early in the game that set the tone. Prior to this matchup, I had predicted the Rams defense would make enough plays to win the game and they indeed did just that.

Biggest Takeaway: While the Rams defense was stellar, they need Goff in the playoffs.

JLuppy’s Week 17 Picks — (1-1)

JLuppy’s Final Record — (27-20)

Final NFC West Standings

Z — : Clinched Division

Y — : Clinched Wild Card

E — : Eliminated