Niner Noise
FanSided

5 bold predictions for the 49ers, the NFC West in 2019

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 and San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Elijah Lee #47 tackle Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson #35 during the first half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 30: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 and San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Elijah Lee #47 tackle Los Angeles Rams running back C.J. Anderson #35 during the first half of a game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 30, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 30: Head Coach Pete Carroll celebrates with Sebastian Janikowski #11 of the Seattle Seahawks after kicking a 33 yard field goal to defeat the Arizona Cardinals 27-24 during their game at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – DECEMBER 30: Head Coach Pete Carroll celebrates with Sebastian Janikowski #11 of the Seattle Seahawks after kicking a 33 yard field goal to defeat the Arizona Cardinals 27-24 during their game at CenturyLink Field on December 30, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Seahawks Win the NFC West in 2019

OK, 49ers fans. You probably don’t want to hear this. But with the Rams poised to have a regressive 2019 campaign, the Cardinals a few years away from legitimately competing and the Niners still on the rebuild, it’s looking as if those Seahawks are in the best position to claim the divisional crown this season.

It’s not just by the process of elimination either.

Well, it is. That’s important. But there’s more at stake here. Yes, Seattle is going to have to figure out how to cope with losing wide receiver Doug Baldwin and trading off EDGE Frank Clark. Yet these were the kinds of questions many fans asked a year ago, specifically after losing defensive end Michael Bennett, cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Kam Chancellor (injured). There were plenty of coaching changes, too, and the Seahawks offense looked awfully paltry early on in the year.

By season’s end, the team led the entire NFL in rushing.

One might guess a run-first, stout defense winds up being the approach once more in 2019. That physical style of play is what prompted Seattle’s first Super Bowl run a number of years ago.

Why move away from it now?

Oh, and the Seahawks have the eighth easiest schedule in 2019, according to opponents’ 2018 win-loss records. That counts for something, too. So does the notion Seattle has yet to “go away,” in terms of contention.