Niner Noise
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NFC West: Previewing 49ers division rivals ahead of 2017 season

By Peter Panacy

Nov 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) stiff-arms away from San Francisco 49ers defensive end Tony Jerod-Eddie (63) during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) stiff-arms away from San Francisco 49ers defensive end Tony Jerod-Eddie (63) during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Alex Collins (36) rushes with the football during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium Seahawks defeated the 49ers 25-23. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Alex Collins (36) rushes with the football during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levis Stadium Seahawks defeated the 49ers 25-23. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

Niner Noise examines the San Francisco 49ers’ fit in the NFC West with the 2017 NFL season just around the corner.

Not long ago, the NFC West was one of the NFL’s powerhouses, and the San Francisco 49ers were in the midst of this once-dominant division.

The NFC West isn’t quite the same anymore, and teams like the Niners and Arizona Cardinals aren’t near the level they used to be. Even the Seattle Seahawks don’t appear as imposing as they were just a couple of seasons ago.

So how does the division shape up as the 2017 season draws near?

In this slideshow, we take a look around the NFC West and see how the 49ers’ competition may fare this season. We’ll examine team schedules, strengths, weaknesses and X-factors and specifically see what the Niners will be dealing with amid the division.

We’ll also take into account each team’s offseason, paying special attention to free-agent pickups/losses and NFL Draft additions.

It’s not likely the 49ers get back to contending for a division title this year. But they may not be the laughingstock of the NFC West either.

So let’s kick things off with last year’s division winners, the Seahawks.