NFL Analysis: Handicapping NFC West
San Francisco Looks To Win Back-to-Back Division Titles
Rams, Cardinals Try to Rebound
Coming into the 2022 season, the focus was on the Los Angeles Rams trying to defy the NFL predictions by winning back-to-back Super Bowls. While the Rams and Arizona Cardinals faltered, the San Francisco 49ers won the division title for just the second time in the last 10 seasons with unheralded rookie quarterback Brock Purdy leading the way.
Now the 49ers are the favorites to win again, according to the NFL betting lines, with the Seattle Seahawks looking for an encore after a surprising run to the playoffs following the trade of former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson.
The departure of Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim made plenty of NFL news, as did the retirement of defensive lineman J.J. Watt.
The division did have two of the top six picks in the 2023 NFL Draft with Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon going to the Seahawks at No. 5 followed by Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson being picked by the Cardinals. Witherspoon figures to draw some NFL betting action in the Defensive Rookie of the Year race.
When looking at the NFL picks, the 49ers are tied for fourth in the odds to win the Super Bowl. The Seahawks (+4000) are next, as they are tied for 14th in the championship odds.
The Rams and Seahawks get going right away with a Week 1 NFC West matchup.
San Francisco 49ers
- 2022 record: 13-4 (lost to Philadelphia in NFC Championship Game)
- Odds to win the division: -160
- Odds to win the NFC: +375
- Regular season win total: 11 (Over EV, Under -130)
- Award candidates: Nick Bosa, +800 Defensive Player of the Year; Christian McCaffrey, +900 Offensive Player of the Year; Trey Lance, +1200 Comeback Player of the Year,+3300 Regular Season MVP and +4000 Offensive Player of the Year; Deebo Samuel, +1800 Offensive Player of the Year; Kyle Shanahan, +2800 Coach of the Year; Brock Purdy, +5000 Regular Season MVP; Fred Warner, +5000 Defensive Player of the Year.
The big question with the 49ers comes at the quarterback position. Brock Purdy, the last player selected in the 2022 NFL Draft, was quite surprised after injuries ravaged the quarterback position. However, it is unsure when Purdy will be cleared to play after he was injured in the NFC Championship Game loss to Philadelphia. Trey Lance will get to prove that he deserved to be the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 draft.
The talent around the quarterback is almost unfair with running back Christian McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle and receiver Deebo Samuel leading the way to go with 1,000-yard receiver Brandon Aiyuk.
Y’all remember this catch? 🤯 @gkittle46#DALvsSF returns to @LevisStadium on 10/8. pic.twitter.com/i6uUdVZ6lc
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) May 11, 2023
Losing offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey hurts. Offensive linemen Matt Pryor and Jon Felicano as was defensive tackle Javon Hargrave are among the key offseason additions.
Previous trades resulted in the 49ers not picking until the third round when they took Penn State safety Ji’Ayir Brown and Michigan kicker Jake Moody.
The 49ers allowed the fewest points in the NFL during the 2022 regular season and they return the top seven tacklers, led by linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga. Vegas NFL odds list defensive end Nick Bosa as one of the leading candidates in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds.
Take A Look At These Other 2 NFL Divisions Analysis
Seattle Seahawks
- 2022 record: 9-8 (lost to San Francisco in wild card round)
- Odds to win the division: +250
- Odds to win the NFC: +1500
- Regular season win total: 8½ (Over -125, Under +105)
- Award candidates: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, +700 Offensive Rookie of the Year; Devon Witherspoon, +800 Defensive Rookie of the Year; Zach Charbonnet, +2200 Offensive Rookie of the Year; Pete Carroll, +3000 Coach of the Year; Derick Hall, +4000 Defensive Rookie of the Year; Jamal Adams, +5000 Comeback Player of the Year; Geno Smith, +5000 Regular Season MVP.
One of the most surprising turns of events was quarterback Geno Smith outperforming longtime Seahawks starter Russell Wilson when Wilson was dealt to the Denver Broncos.
Rookie Kenneth Walker ran for more than 1,000 yards after a season-ending injury to Rashaad Penny. Penny has since moved onto the Philadelphia Eagles. Walker could attract plenty of action in live betting circles.
Former Ohio State receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba joins DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett while Noah Fant and Will Dissly are back at tight end.
The Seahawks surprised many by picking cornerback Devon Witherspoon with the No. 5 pick (part of the haul in the trade for Wilson) instead of helping to upgrade a leaky run defense. Defensive end Derick Hall was picked in the second round with another selection acquired from the Broncos.
Seattle did lose No. 2 tackler Cody Barton and underrated safety Ryan Neal.
Leading tackler Jordan Brooks, second-year cornerback Tariq Woolen, and sack leader Uchenan Nwosu are all back on defense. Linebacker Devin Bush, a former top-10 pick, comes in from Pittsburgh while Jarren Reed, who had 10.5 sacks for the Seahawks in 2018, returns to Seattle.
Los Angeles Rams
- 2022 record: 5-12 (missed playoffs)
- Odds to win the division: +550
- Odds to win the NFC: +2800
- Regular season win total: 7 (Over Ev, Under -130)
- Award candidates: Matthew Stafford, +1600 Comeback Player of the Year and +5000 Regular Season MVP; Cooper Kupp, +1800 Offensive Player of the Year and +2000 Comeback Player of the Year; Sean McVay, +3000 Coach of the Year; Aaron Donald, +2000 Defensive Player of the Year and +5000 Comeback Player of the Year; Cam Akers, +5000 Comeback Player of the Year.
After winning the Super Bowl, it all unraveled for the Rams with receiver Cooper Kupp missing eight games, quarterback Matthew Stafford being limited to nine games, and perennial NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate Aaron Donald being sidelined for six contests.
The Rams’ first-round pick in this year’s draft went to Detroit in the trade for Stafford. Look for bounce-back seasons from Stafford, Kupp, and Donald.
“I want a bunch of guys that are hungry. No matter if they’ve played no snaps or 10 snaps, as long as they got that mindset.”
Rams defense got younger this offseason, but Aaron Donald is on board with the approach as long as he sees that work ethichttps://t.co/uCqb7SVF9b
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) May 10, 2023
There weren’t many additions on either offense or defense during the offseason.
It was a trying season for running back Cam Akers. However, he ended the season with three straight 100-yard rushing games. It was not a great sign that Kupp led the Rams with 75 receptions despite missing nearly half the season. Allen Robinson never really panned out so the receiver is now in Pittsburgh. Now that he is healthy, the sportsbook will have Kupp as a strong candidate for multiple offensive awards.
Leading tackler Bobby Wagner returned to Seattle, star cornerback Jalen Ramsey is now with the Miami Dolphins, safety Nick Scott joined the Cincinnati Bengals and fellow safety Taylor Rapp headed off to Buffalo. Currently, just one of the Rams’ top seven tacklers from 2022 is under contract with the team.
Arizona Cardinals
- 2022 record: 4-13 (missed playoffs)
- Odds to win the division: +2000
- Odds to win the NFC: +8000
- Regular season win total: 4½ (Over -125, Under -105)
- Award candidates: Jonathan Gannon, +3000 Coach of the Year; DeAndre Hopkins, +4000 Offensive Player of the Year and +4000 Comeback Player of the Year; Kyler Murray, +4000 Comeback Player of the Year and +5000 Regular Season MVP.
The 2022 season began with Super Bowl aspirations and it ended with the firing of head coach Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim.
Quarterback Kyler Murray missed six games and wasn’t particularly effective in the ones in which he played. Now there were questions about the future of star receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins led the Cardinals with an average of 11.2 yards per reception and that speaks volumes about how the offense played in 2022.
J.J. Watt, the team leader with 12½ sacks, retired while defensive end Zach Allen signed with Denver and No. 5 tackler Ben Niemann headed off to Tennessee.
It is not a great sign that safeties Budda Baker and Jalen Thompson were the team’s top two tacklers a season ago.
The Cardinals added offensive tackle Paris JohnsonJr. in the first round and defensive end BJ Ojulari in the second round during the 2023 draft.
Jonathan Gannon was named the head coach after being the defensive coordinator with the reigning NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles. He brought linebacker Kyzir White with him and former Green Bay linebacker Krys Barnes was also signed.
Get the latest NFL lines and NFL odds for upcoming games. Stay informed and make informed bets with our up-to-date analysis and expert insights. Join the excitement of NFL betting and win big!
