Niner Noise
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Previewing how the 49ers stack up against the NFC West in 2019

By Josh Altorfer

KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 24: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers hands the ball to Tevin Coleman #26 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter during preseason action against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - AUGUST 24: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers hands the ball to Tevin Coleman #26 of the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter during preseason action against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams talks with Jared Goff #16 prior to kickoff at Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams talks with Jared Goff #16 prior to kickoff at Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

2019 Preview: Los Angeles Rams

2018 Record: 13-3, First in NFC West

Key Additions:

LB Clay Matthews, FA

S Eric Weddle, FA

RB Darrell Henderson, Draft

Key Losses:

S Lamarcus Joyner

DT Ndamukong Suh

Recap:

The Los Angeles Rams dominated the NFC West last season and finished tied with the New Orleans Saints for the best regular-season record in the entire NFL. They didn’t slow down in the playoffs either, as they reached their first Super Bowl appearance since 2002.

They lost to the New England Patriots 13-3, ironically the same team they lost to back in 2002.

Unlike the Cardinals, the Rams did not have much of a turnaround in the offseason. Probably for good reason, as they did not have much to improve on. They did lose two key pieces from their 2018 defense in safety Lamarcus Joyner and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

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    • They added veteran All-Pro safety Eric Weddle, which some might say is an upgrade from Joyner. They also added longtime Green Bay Packer Clay Matthews at linebacker.

    The biggest issue talked about throughout the offseason for the Rams was the health of All-Pro running back Todd Gurley. Head coach Sean McVay has downplayed any injury and insists Gurley is good to go for another dominant season carrying the rock.

    Even if Gurley is not 100 percent, he is still a player that keeps defensive coordinators up at night. They added a very talented rookie running back from Memphis, in Darrell Henderson, to add some depth to the position.

    They’ve also added injured wide receiver Cooper Kupp back into one of the best receiving corps in the league.

    2019 Projections:

    It should come as no surprise the Rams enter the 2019 season as one of the best all-around teams in the NFL. They really only lost two players who were consistent starters during their Super Bowl run in 2018.

    Their best-case scenario is another trip to the Super Bowl, this time coming out on top.

    The most realistic outcome is that the Rams sit atop the NFC West yet again. They just don’t have many, if any, holes on their team. However, the division has improved drastically from last year. The Cardinals and 49ers will not be easy wins this season. I don’t envision the Rams beasting their way through the division as they did in 2018, when they finished 6-0 against their NFC West opponents.

    For this reason, their regular-season record takes a bit of a hit and they finish the season 11-5.