Despite being severely undermanned, the Seattle Seahawks still managed to pull it off. They beat the Arizona Cardinals with a combination of stout defense and timely scoring, bringing their record to 5-4, including 2-1 in the division.
Unfortunately for them, every other team in the NFC West also took care of business. While only the San Francisco 49ers have lived up to expectations in one of the toughest divisions in football, the competition is getting pretty intense.
Midway through the regular season, no team in the NFC West has any sort of margin for error. That said, it also means the Seahawks still have a chance to get on a heater and take the division by the horns.
NFC West power rankings: The Seattle Seahawks can't afford a setback
4. Arizona Cardinals (3-6)
The Cardinals have been fairly competitive this season, even in losses. They're clearly not a winning team right now, and it might be a while before they can straighten the ship's course, but they're building a solid culture in the desert.
They're technically not out of the playoff race, though it's hard to envision them winning more games than they will lose for the remainder of the season. Even still, they're clearly not as bad a team as most thought.
3. Los Angeles Rams (5-4)
The Los Angeles Rams are finally back on their feet, and getting Myles Garrett back on the field was obviously huge for their defense. They will always be a dangerous team, even when they're banged up and not playing up to their standards.
Notably, Puka Nacua's injury looms large. The passing game has been overly dependent on him, and having him miss time while Davante Adams is also out might give the rest of the division the break they need to get past them.
2. Seattle Seahawks (5-4)
No Darnold, no problem. Once again, Drew Lock answered the call when the Seattle Seahawks needed someone to step up. There's still plenty to clean up, but Quenton Nelson's eventual return should help them establish the running game, and the defense is still top-notch.
There are legitimate reasons to worry about the quarterback play, and Brian Fleury's play-calling must improve. Then again, this team has been competitive even in the losses, except for the setback against the Chicago Bears.
The Seahawks have had a fairly disappointing season by the standards, but they're 2-1 in the division and still have three games against NFC West foes. It's way too early to count them out, but they can't afford another mishap.
1. San Francisco 49ers (7-1)
Ok, maybe it's time to admit the San Francisco 49ers are for real. Beating Klint Kubiak and the Las Vegas Raiders might not be a barometer, but they got the job done with ease despite being down multiple big pieces on offense.
Kyle Shanahan's team always finds a way to shoot itself in the foot when it matters most, but they have the best record in the league for a reason. That Week 12 rematch might define the whole season for both teams.
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