Most can assume that the NFC West will once again be a battle between the three giants: the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Los Angeles Rams. That means any of those teams losing early in the season creates problems for the rest of the season. LA has already lost one game, and they might be missing wide receiver Puka Nacua in Week 3. That could help Seattle.
To be sure, Seattle and Los Angeles do not play one another in Week 3, but in essence, the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams are playing each other every week. The battle for the division will likely come down to one game.
Nacua is dealing with a groin injury and missed Week 2. He appears to be trending toward missing Week 3, too, as head coach Sean McVay said that the receiver wasn't making "great progress." Nacua doesn't have a sports hernia and isn't expected to be out a long time, but there is a difference between him being out Week 2 versus Week 3.
Rams potentially missing Puka Nacua in Week 3 should help the Seattle Seahawks
That is the level of competition that the Rams are facing. In Week 2, they played against the New York Giants, a team that is not only mediocre but also lost quarterback Jaxson Dart to an injury during the game. LA didn't need Nacua to win the game.
Week 3 is completely different. The Rams will travel to play the Denver Broncos, a team with an elite defense and an efficient offense. If LA wins, it will likely be because its defense has mostly shut down quarterback Bo Nix and his rather limited offense. But Denver's defense is so good that it can slow McVay's offensive attack whether it has Nacua or not.
With no Nacua, veteran Davante Adams was excellent against the Giants with eight catches, 195 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. Adams will not have the same kind of success against a Broncos defense with an excellent secondary that features Patrick Surtain II.
Having Nacua would obviously help the Rams, but he isn't likely to play. That could definitely lead Los Angeles to a 1-2 start after beginning the season by getting blown out by the 49ers in Australia. LA can still win the NFC West, of course, but they are more likely to start 1-2 and try to play catch-up with the Seahawks and 49ers, who are probably going to begin 3-0.
The Seattle Seahawks play the Jayden Daniels-less Washington Commanders on Sunday, and the 49ers will host the Arizona Cardinals. At the end of Week 3, Seattle and San Francisco should be tied for the lead in the NFC West and lead the Rams and Cardinals by two games.
That's the hope anyway. Denver should beat LA if Nacua doesn't play. Seattle should beat the Commanders, especially if quarterback Sam Darnold returns after suffering a glute injury in Week 1. He is trending toward playing.
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