With free agency in progress and the 2022 NFL Draft approaching, franchises all have a level of excitement. Some are looking to contend this season, while others just want to move in the right direction. The league is unique in that every team has a chance to win the Super Bowl each season. The NFL can be volatile, and the smallest of breaks could launch a championship run, as exemplified by the Cincinnati Bengals last year. It may be unlikely to happen again, but football is unpredictable for a reason. There is a path for all 32 teams to win Super Bowl LVII. Today, that path is for teams in the NFC West.
Previous: AFC East, AFC North, AFC South, AFC West, NFC East, NFC North, NFC South
Los Angeles Rams
No team has repeated as Super Bowl champions since the 2003-2004 New England Patriots, but the Rams have a solid shot to do so this upcoming season. Los Angeles is loaded on both sides of the ball. For the offense, they are spearheaded by the reigning receiving triple crown winner Cooper Kupp. Matthew Stafford is a top-10 quarterback, and he will look to be even better in his second year in LA. Sean McVay is an offensive genius, and he works as a force multiplier for the offense’s players.
Aaron Donald is the NFL’s best player, and it is not particularly close. While the Rams lost Von Miller, they still have Jalen Ramsey, and they signed Bobby Wagner to bolster the linebacker corps. The Rams had pedestrian defensive statistics in 2021, but they improved dramatically in the playoffs. En route to the Super Bowl, the Rams stifled four great offenses. Moving into 2022, the Rams should be closer to the top 10 in defensive metrics.
Repeating as Super Bowl champions rarely happens, but teams are rarely constructed as well as the Rams. They have both superstars and depth on both sides of the ball, unlike many of the recent champions. Los Angeles did lose both Miller and Robert Woods this offseason, but they have the horses to replace each of them. While the Rams do not have much in the way of draft capital, they have an exceptional roster and one of the best head coaches in the NFL.
Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray finally ascended to an MVP level before he was injured during the 2021 season. Now fully healthy, expect Murray to return to his sublime form and replicate that performance. The return of DeAndre Hopkins will also help Murray keep up his ridiculous pace. This duo is among the best in the NFL, and both players have the upside to be the best at their individual positions. Auxiliary pieces such as Rondale Moore add funk to the offense, helping the well-roundedness of the offense.
Defensively, the Cardinals do not have one of the best in the league, but it is generally strong enough to lead to many victories. Isaiah Simmons is a developing superstar, and Zaven Collins has a bright future. Additionally, Arizona has one of the best secondary pieces in the NFL in Budda Baker. The defensive front can be squishy, but the Cardinals can address these needs in the NFL draft.
The Cardinals had a freezing cold end of the season, losing seven of their last 11 games, including a disgraceful playoff blowout at the hands of the Rams. However, six of the seven losses came after Murray was initially injured. Their first loss, a last-second Thursday night setback to the Green Bay Packers was nearly a Cardinals’ victory, but A.J. Green forgot how to play his position. Without this divine intervention, the Cardinals likely would have been 8-0 before Murray’s injury. The high-end upside is clear, and Arizona is a serious contender in 2022.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers did not win the Super Bowl, but they were brutally close for the second time in three seasons. Moving forward, they are likely to be quarterbacked by 2021 first-round pick Trey Lance. Lance saw minimal action in 2021, but he clearly has a much higher upside than incumbent Jimmy Garoppolo. The San Francisco has yet to trade Garoppolo, but they could trade him by draft day. Lance should be the No. 1 option this season, and his presence will make the 49ers more likely to win the Super Bowl.
The 49ers had a stellar defense, particularly in the second half of the season. While having a lackluster secondary, they had a tremendous pass rush that consistently disrupted quarterbacks. Players such as Nick Bosa give the 49ers an edge that can defeat any team in football. With a trump card like this, they will be able to cobble together wins and likely secure another trip to the playoffs. Once there, San Francisco is as effective as any team in the NFL at winning games and making deep runs.
The 49ers are led by Kyle Shanahan, an offensive guru and one of the best head coaches in the NFL. While Shanahan has had a knack for coming up short in big moments, it is a testament to how great of a coach that he even gets to those spots in the first place. Yes, Shanahan contributed to a 25-point blown lead when he was offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons. Yes, he contributed to a blown fourth-quarter lead in Super Bowl LIV. No, neither of these results are enough to say that he will never win the big game.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have appeared to blow their roster up. Franchise legends Russell Wilson and Wagner have both found new homes. D.K. Metcalf is involved in trade rumors across the NFL. However, the Seahawks have a lottery ticket named Drew Lock. While Lock did not pan out with the Denver Broncos, he now has two of the best receivers in the NFL with Tyler Lockett and Metcalf. Seattle also has a breakout running back in the form of Rashaad Penny. The offensive line is not elite, but it could take a step forward in 2022.
Defensively, the Seahawks were a surprisingly competent unit in 2021. They had such highlights as sweeping the 49ers, holding the Packers to 17 points, and beating the Cardinals with Murray. They finished the season 11th in scoring defense, bolstered by a tremendous run defense on a per-play basis. The coverage unit was beatable, but get the return of Jamal Adams. He has had plenty of struggles in coverage with the Seahawks, but he has a history of being a solid cover player when he was on the New York Jets.
As a whole, Seattle thinks they are more competitive than the general public might believe. This organizational philosophy keeps morale high, particularly in the offense. As seen in 2012, the Seahawks are just a quarterback away from this outlook working out. Whether the Seahawks decide to roll with Lock (or Geno Smith), or if they draft a rookie, they could be a sneaky contender even in a tough division. The Seahawks struck gold with Wilson; they could do so again with Lock.
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow Ryan Potts on Twitter @MrSplashMan19
Main Image Credit:
Embed from Getty Images
One Response