The Los Angeles Rams have Matthew Stafford, the NFL's most reliable wideout, Puka Nakua, and one of the best coaches in the league, Sean McVay. The San Francisco 49ers have crippling injury problems, but also Christian McCaffrey, the genius of Kyle Shanahan, and..McCorkle "Mac" Jones?
Then there is the Seattle Seahawks, who have Sam Darnold playing his best football of his NFL career, the explosive Jaxon Smigh-Njigba, and one of the brightest head coaching minds around the league, Mike Macdonald. The Cardinals have a 2-4 record and a coach with a temper.
Arizona aside, the NFC West may be the toughest division across the league as it stands today. All three of the Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers have 4-2 records. Assuming that all three teams maintain this pace, this division is going down to the wire and could even have a heavy representation in the playoffs.
All that said, however, the Seahawks are one of the three teams whose chances may outweigh the others, and there's good reason for it.
Division injuries could open the door for the Seattle Seahawks to win it
All it takes is for one star or key player to go down, and the ceiling could collapse. In San Francisco, the injuries have already hampered the roster. They entered the season without Brandon Aiyuk, their number one wideout, and starting quarterback Brock Purdy has been in and out of the lineup.
The worst news for the Niners is that Fred Warner is officially done for the year, and there's no timetable for George Kittle's return either.
Yet, somehow, and someway, Shanahan and Jones have kept the 49ers in play in their division. Suffice to say that the Niners are dealing with an issue that could bury them this season, but the fact that they are 4-2 says they still have life, remarkably.
In Los Angeles, what the Rams don't need is something to happen to Stafford — he's their only chance at a playoff run or more. The significant injury the Rams currently have to deal with is Nacua's sprained ankle. It does not appear he'll be ready for Week 7, and that's not good for the Rams.
If injuries continue to play a significant role in the NFC West, the mirroring 4-2 records between the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers might not last long. That's where things can go from good to fortunate in Seattle. With major injuries stacking up for their West rivals, Seattle is generally healthy right now, save for some defensive issues. For the most part, they're in a good spot.
Granted, the way Sam Darnold is playing, and the Seahawks in general, all three teams at their healthiest still might see the Seahawks come out on top. That said, the injuries in San Francisco and LA may open the door wide open for Seattle to steal the division lead and run home with it.
The Seahawks have not won their division since 2020, but they are in a prime position to establish a stranglehold on the West. Three games against the Rams and 49ers remain, though, and who knows what those games will look like when the time comes. Nevertheless, the time is now for Seattle to step on the accelerator.