The NFC West race is heating up again in 2026. After Seattle’s Super Bowl run and Los Angeles’ aggressive offseason, the LA Rams and Seahawks appear headed for another battle.
Sean McVay stood at the podium after the Rams’ 31-27 defeat in the NFC Championship Game. Confetti fell for Seattle, not Los Angeles. “I’m pretty numb,” McVay admitted afterward. “I felt like we were going to be the team on that podium.” Those comments perfectly capture the emotional weight surrounding the NFC West entering 2026.
The Rams entered last season as Super Bowl favorites. Matthew Stafford was also viewed as the MVP frontrunner. Many believed the gunslinging quarterback would get the job done. He nearly did. However, Seattle changed the entire conversation.
Seattle Seahawks Shock the LA Rams in 2025
The Rams lost control of the division after a crushing overtime defeat to Seattle in Week 16. Los Angeles still finished 12-5 and reached the playoffs. Unfortunately, the lower seed forced them onto the road. McVay’s team battled through the postseason impressively. The Rams defeated both Carolina and Chicago away from home. Their season finally ended against Seattle in the NFC Championship loss.
Seattle then captured the Lombardi Trophy behind its dominant “Dark Side” defense. Despite that championship run, sportsbooks still favor Los Angeles entering 2026. The Rams are currently listed around +140 to win the NFC West. Meanwhile, Seattle sits slightly behind them. The popular Lucky Rebel sportsbook also lists Los Angeles among the favorites to win Super Bowl LXI at SoFi Stadium. Can the Rams finally finish the job this season?
LA Rams Reload for Another Run
Sean McVay attacked the secondary aggressively this offseason. The Rams traded four draft picks to Kansas City for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. They also added former Chiefs corner Jaylen Watson. Those moves addressed the team’s biggest weakness immediately.
Seattle exposed Los Angeles repeatedly in the NFC title game. Sam Darnold attacked the secondary throughout all four quarters. McDuffie gives the Rams a true lockdown option moving forward. The rest of the roster remains dangerous.
Stafford threw for 3,762 yards last season while working with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. That duo may be the NFC’s best receiving combination. Meanwhile, Jared Verse and Byron Young continue developing into elite pass rushers. Kyren Williams also keeps defenses balanced offensively. Still, one major concern remains. Stafford is now 38 years old. The Rams drafted Ty Simpson as the future successor. Retirement questions continue surrounding the veteran quarterback. Oddsmakers still believe Stafford has enough left for another run. However, the pressure surrounding this roster has never been greater.
DISCIPLINE: The #Rams have the fewest penalties in the #NFL nearly every season.
They are the least-penalized team over the past 5 seasons and had only 75 penalties in 2025.
They have drawn the fewest flags in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Sean McVay is remarkable 😱 pic.twitter.com/2UJDHTFzX4
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) April 30, 2026
Seattle Seahawks Remain the Team to Beat
Seattle should no longer be treated like an underdog story. The Seattle Seahawks are defending Super Bowl champions. Sam Darnold threw 25 touchdown passes last season and delivered a huge NFC Championship performance. Jaxon Smith-Njigba also emerged as one of football’s top young receivers. The connection between Darnold and Smith-Njigba could become even stronger in year two. Seattle did lose several important contributors. Kenneth Walker III signed with Kansas City. Boye Mafe left for Cincinnati. Tariq Woolen also departed in free agency. Those losses matter.
@luckyrebel_ Legion of Boom is history, the Dark Side is here. #LuckyRebel #JoinTheRebellion #Patriots #Seahawks #SuperBowl
Still, elite defenses rarely disappear overnight. Seattle’s defensive identity remains intact entering 2026. If the defense continues dominating games, the Seahawks could absolutely defend their title successfully.
San Francisco Still Has Championship Potential
The 49ers remain one of the league’s most dangerous teams when healthy. Christian McCaffrey continues producing at an elite level. George Kittle remains one of football’s toughest matchup problems. Everything depends on Brock Purdy. Purdy has now missed significant time in consecutive seasons. That instability continues hurting San Francisco’s ceiling. Mac Jones performed admirably in relief last season. However, he never seriously threatened Seattle or Los Angeles in the division race. If Purdy stays healthy, the 49ers could absolutely reach another conference championship. If injuries return, San Francisco may struggle simply to keep pace in the NFC West.
Arizona Faces a Difficult Rebuild
Arizona enters 2026 as the clear outsider in the division. Kyler Murray is gone after an underwhelming era with the franchise. Veteran Jacoby Brissett now projects as the starting quarterback.
The Cardinals selected Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick. The Notre Dame running back brings legitimate star potential. Still, the roster lacks stability. Arizona continues searching for a long-term direction. Oddsmakers currently list the Cardinals around +3300 to win the NFC West. That number reflects the steep climb ahead.
Thank you for reading my LA Rams, Seattle Seahawks, NFC West article. You can read more of my sports betting content on my IDP+ Author page. After that, feel free to connect with me on Twitter @MarcSaulio and follow @IDP_Plus to stay informed about everything NFL-relevant by becoming a member.
