So far throughout the opening weeks of the 2025 NFL season, the scriptwriters, if such a thing exists, have outdone themselves. Three weeks in, and there are already a slew of talking points. The heavyweight Kansas City Chiefs have stumbled out of the blocks, losing their opening two games and already looking like outsiders to win a tenth straight AFC West crown. As well as that, no fewer than five starting quarterbacks are already injured, with the likes of Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels, and Brock Purdy all now resigned to the treatment room.
Yet here in the West, every week feels like a playoff eliminator. The westernmost NFC division is perhaps the tightest in the entire NFL, with three of the four competitors sitting with 2-0 records, while the Seahawks are looking for a way in. Seattle has endured a mixed start to the season, losing their opener before bouncing back in week two. Now, the Lumen Field faithful are asking the question: Can their side claw its way to the top of the most cannibalistic division in football?
Let’s break down each contender, the critical trends, and dissect just how realistic Seattle’s hopes truly are.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are without question the outsider for divisional honors according to online oddsmakers. The latest football odds price them as a +650 to win their division this season, and while their journey into the new era may have begun with uncertainty, anyone expecting a passive rebuild has been proven wrong. They currently sit 1-1, a modest record belying the see-saw narrative of their opening weeks. Week 1 delivered a harsh lesson: a 17-13 defeat at home against the relentless 49ers, determined to bounce back from a dismal 2024 campaign.
Cue Week 2: enter Heinz Field, secure redemption. Sam Darnold, tagged as the stopgap heir to Geno Smith and the prelude to former Alabama star Jalen Milroe at quarterback, roared to life with 280 passing yards, two touchdowns, zero turnovers, and—crucially—the swagger that had long gone missing. The new man under center managed to mastermind a shock 31-17 win on the road against Pittsburgh, immediately announcing his side as a contender out West, rather than an afterthought.
Explosive sequences from Kenneth Walker III (123 rushing yards across two games) and the route running of Jaxon Smith-Njigba have ensured that the Washington State outfit looks threatening with every set. Defensively, Mike Macdonald’s arrival has already redefined the Seahawks’ identity thanks to six takeaways, the second most in the league. Yet, for every flash of potential, there’s a question mark: Can the pass rush improve upon just three sacks all season? Can Darnold avoid reversion to his old habits under duress?
The schedule is merciless: Divisional rivals LA and Arizona await, both boasting undefeated starts and headline stars. The Seahawks feel every bit the division’s wildcard—a team capable of 9 or 10 wins if discipline prevails and chemistry continues to build. With that being said, they also look vulnerable to the mistakes that could leave them out in the cold by December. In a division where each week feels like a must-win, Seattle’s margin for error is microscopic.
Arizona Cardinals
Few foresaw Arizona leading the pace setters after two weeks, but Jonathan Gannon appears determined to rewrite every projection. The Cardinals’ 2-0 start is no fluke—they frustrated the Saints with a clinical 20-13 dismantling in their opener before surviving a rollercoaster 27-22 finish over Carolina, with Calais Campbell delivering the final exclamation point.
Kyler Murray is playing fast, loose, and—so far—fearless, torching defenses for 474 total yards and three touchdowns despite last season’s lingering questions. Advanced stats rank Arizona’s defense top-5 in Expected Points Added, their five takeaways displaying a knack for pouncing on opportunities. Marvin Harrison Jr., the rookie whom Cardinals fans already lauded as “can’t guard him,” is stretching defenses on every snap, while James Conner’s 156-yard, two-TD start is powering a revitalized ground attack.
But there are fissures beneath the sheen. Arizona’s O-line surrendered three sacks late to a resurgent Carolina, revealing the old frailties that once doomed their NFC West ambitions. If they can’t protect Murray—who has already absorbed seven QB hits—the ceiling drops fast.
Los Angeles Rams
If Hollywood had written a script for these Rams, it might have seemed far-fetched: a defense-first slugfest in Houston resulted in a 14-9 victory, followed by Matthew Stafford eviscerating Tennessee for 314 yards and three scores in a 33-19 clinic. Davante Adams and Puka Nacua form arguably the league’s most dynamic WR duo, with the latter in particular proving to be a monster with the ball in hand.
But as with every NFC West juggernaut, vulnerability exists. LA’s O-line, rotating in two rookies, has given up five sacks already, and as the schedule turns—particularly with divisional road tests looming—their mettle will be tested. Stafford’s health is the linchpin: as long as his arm stays alive, the Rams are the main contenders to take the fight to the Niners, but a single misstep turns any perceived advantages into a dogfight.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have motored through the first two weeks of the season highly motivated. Not only are they gunning to right the wrongs of their disastrous 6-11 effort last term, but next February’s Super Bowl LX will be hosted in their Levi’s Stadium home. Boy, would they love to feature in the Big Game on home turf.
Kyle Shanahan’s side has begun with back-to-back wins—first narrowly edging the Seahawks in a 17-13 war of attrition, before downing a Saints side 26-21. Despite Brock Purdy’s unfortunate injury, San Francisco’s offense didn’t skip a beat; Mac Jones tossed three touchdowns in relief and managed the line of scrimmage with the kind of precision that Patriots fans wish they’d have seen throughout his two years in Foxborough.
Christian McCaffrey’s return has been a difference maker, with the superstar running back helping himself to 124 yards. Then there’s the defense: guided by Nick Bosa’s wrecking-ball abilities, the unit is allowing just 186 passing yards per contest—second in the NFL. The secondary, often overshadowed, produced two crucial picks in Week 2.
Still, adversity looms. For all its strength-on-strength dominance, injuries could yet sap this team’s edge once again. Last term it was McCaffrey; this year it’s Purdy. The pressure is now on Jones to ensure that the former Mr. Irrelevant’s absence isn’t felt.
