NFL 2016 Divisional Reviews – NFC West

After reaching the last two Super Bowls, and winning one of those, the Seahawks were the favourites to win the NFC West in 2015. However, they were beaten to top spot by the Cardinals. Both teams got playoff places, while the Rams and 49ers struggled to less than .500 records.

Cardinals (13-3)

Seahawks (10-6)

Rams (7-9)

49ers (5-11)

 

Arizona Cardinals – 13-3 (#2 seed)

Conference Weekend – L 49-15 to Panthers

After three big wins to start the season, the Cardinals then lost two of their next three, including a 24-22 loss to the Rams, to fall to 4-2. From there, Arizona’s season change for the better. Nine straight wins, with 34 or more points scored in six of those, saw the Cardinals move to 13 wins and bag themselves a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

After having their well-earned week off, the Cardinals hosted the Packers. They scraped through with a 26-20 victory, setting up a match-up with the Panthers in Charlotte. It was never to be, however. A demolition job by the Panthers offence, twinned with six turnovers, saw their run end. A 34 point defeat was not the best way to end the season, but they will definitely be back next year.

The Cardinals will have the 29th pick in the 2016 draft.

 

Seattle Seahawks – 10-6 (#6 seed)

Divisional Weekend – L 31-24 to Panthers

The Seahawks came into 2015 as the favourites to reach the Super Bowl as NFC Champions, but a 2-4 start put pay to that almost immediately. Two wins before their bye week got them to 4-4, before five straight wins in the latter part of the season got them to within touching distance of the playoffs. A final day win over the Cardinals got them into the #6 spot in the Wild Card placings in the NFC.

The Seahawks were not playing brilliant football, and that showed in the Wild Card Weekend matchup against the Vikings. They won 10-9, only through a missed FG from the Vikings in the final minute of the game. They went on to Carolina, where they went down 31-0 in the opening half an hour. They came back, scoring 24 unanswered points, but it wasn’t enough, with the hopes of a third straight Super Bowl gone.

Seattle will have the 26th pick in the draft.

 

St Louis Rams – 7-9

The Rams’ 2015 campaign started well, going 4-3 through their first seven games. However, a run of five straight defeats, in which they did not manage to score more than 18 points in a single game, saw their run at the playoffs end. Three late wins gives them hope for next year, as does doing the double over the Seahawks, but they still have a lot to improve on.

The Rams, who will be the Los Angeles Rams, at the time of the draft, will pick 15th.

 

San Francisco 49ers – 5-11

2015 is not a year that San Francisco will look back on with fond memories. Four straight defeats after winning their opening game, including conceding +40 points in Weeks 2 & 3, saw them fall away.The odd win here and there was never going to be enough, and with the off-field saga of contract disputes with Colin Kaepernick, the 49ers will have a lot to do to get the team settled before the start of the 2016 season.

San Francisco will have the 7th pick in the draft in April.